The Government has committed to modernising certain laws so that they are ‘technology neutral’, to enable easier communication between businesses, individuals and regulators.

The first phase of legislative reform will focus on key areas raised by stakeholders which are implementation-ready (ideally by the end of 2021), including:

• expanding the range of documents that can be validly signed electronically;
• increasing the range of documents that can be sent electronically to shareholders and amending requirements to contact lost shareholders;
• improving flexibility for customers when changing address and consenting to electronic communication with credit providers;
• removing prescriptive requirements for notices to be published in newspapers, where suitable alternatives have been identified; and
• addressing provisions in Treasury legislation where only non-electronic payment options are in place.

Subsequent phases will consider reforms in additional areas that could benefit from greater technology neutrality, including communication with regulators, and product disclosure and recordkeeping requirements.