Full Federal Court dismisses challenge to CADB decision by former auditor
9 October 2026
On 9 October 2026, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia dismissed an appeal by Mr Reginald Williams challenging a decision of CADB made on 5 December 2018, in which CADB had cancelled the registration of Mr Williams as an auditor.
Mr Williams had instituted his application to the Federal Court in December 2023, some five years after CADB’s decision. On 18 June 2025, Justice Perry, at first instance, dismissed Mr William’s application - Williams v Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board [2025] FCA 629. On 14 July 2025, Mr Williams appealed to the Full Court, which dismissed the appeal on 9 October 2026.
The original Board decision had found that Mr Williams, as Engagement Partner on an audit, had failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor, notwithstanding that much of the work found to be deficient in the audit had been performed by others in his firm. Mr Williams challenged the Board’s decision on the basis, amongst other things, that CADB had effectively imposed liability on him for the work of others, without first determining whether he had failed adequately to supervise or review their work.
The Fully Court rejected this challenge, holding that Mr Williams, as Engagement Partner, was not merely obliged to direct and supervise others, but bore ultimate responsibility for the audit.
The Full Court also rejected an alternative challenge by Mr Williams, that the Board failed to take into account mandatory relevant considerations when considering the appropriate sanction, in particular, the fact that the impugned audit work had largely been undertaken by another registered company auditor within his firm.
On appeal to the Full Court, Mr Williams did not maintain an argument, put to Justice Perry at first instance and rejected by her, that CADB was not entitled to rely on its own specialist expertise. Justice Perry’s unchallenged holding was that CADB was "properly regarded as an expert or specialised board and is therefore entitled to rely upon its expertise and specialised knowledge subject to the obligation to act in accordance with procedural fairness”.
Auditor withdraws application for review of CADB decision
25 September 2026
New South Wales auditor, Mr Sam Danieli, has withdrawn his application to review the decision by CADB to cancel his registration as an auditor.
CADB handed down its decision to cancel Mr Danieli’s registration on 16 December 2025, having been satisfied that Mr Danieli had failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor, and was not a fit and proper person to remain registered as an auditor. Mr Danieli applied to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for a review and a stay of CADB’s decision.
On 19 March 2026, ART dismissed Mr Danieli’s application for a stay.
On 25 September 2026, Mr Danieli withdrew his application to ART. Section 95 of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 provides that if an applicant withdraws an application, the application is taken to be dismissed.
The Board’s decision cancelling Mr Danieli’s registration is located on the Decisions page.
CADB suspends the registration of Queensland Auditor and issues reprimand
15 September 2026
On 10 September 2026, CADB ordered that the registration of Cameron Arthur Bradley as an auditor be suspended until 30 June 2028.
On an application brought to the Board by ASIC, a Panel of the Board found that it was satisfied that Mr Bradley had failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor in relation to audits performed by PKF Brisbane Audit, an audit firm of which Mr Bradley was a partner.
The Board made orders that as of 15 September 2026 the registration of Mr Bradley as an auditor be suspended until 30 June 2028. The Board also reprimanded Mr Bradley and required him to provide undertakings to the Board and ASIC.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 2.3 MB)
Read the Media Release (PDF 87 KB)
CADB cancels the registration of New South Wales Auditor
16 December 2025
On 16 December 2025, CADB ordered that the registration as an auditor of Sam Danieli be cancelled.
On an application brought to the Board by ASIC, a Panel of the Board found that it was satisfied that Mr Danieli had failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor. The Panel also found Mr Danieli was not a fit and proper person to remain registered as an auditor.
The Board made orders that the registration of Mr Danieli as an auditor be cancelled.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 6.3 MB)
Read the Media Release (PDF 128 KB)
CADB cancels the registration of Victorian Auditor
24 October 2025
On 24 October 2025, CADB ordered that the registration as an auditor of Ryan William O’Shea be cancelled.
On an application brought to the Board by ASIC, a Panel of the Board found that it was satisfied that Mr O’Shea had failed to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties of an auditor in connection with audits performed by him over a number of years of three companies involved in property development namely Global Capital Property Fund Limited, UGC Global Alpha Fund Limited and United Global Capital Pty Ltd.
The Panel also found that the extensive and serious nature of Mr O’Shea’s failings justified a finding that he was not a fit and proper person to remain registered as an auditor.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 1.5 MB)
Read the Media Release (PDF 119 KB)
CADB admonishes Victorian Auditor
30 June 2025
On 30 June 2025, a Panel of CADB admonished Simon Christopher Trivett, a registered auditor. Mr Trivett of Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd (Grant Thornton), was Review Auditor on the audit performed by Grant Thornton of the financial report of the consolidated entity comprising iSignthis Limited and its subsidiaries.
The Panel was satisfied that Mr Trivett had failed in his duty as Review Auditor, to carry out or perform adequately and properly the duties or functions required by Australian law to be carried out or performed by a registered auditor in connection with the audit. In addition to being admonished, the Panel required Mr Trivett to provide undertakings to ASIC in relation to engaging a Peer Reviewer for his audits and undertaking extra CPD.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 931 KB)
Read the Media Release (PDF 110 KB)
CADB cancels registration of Victorian Auditor
25 June 2025
On 25 June 2025, a Panel of CADB ordered that the registration of Bradley Laurance Willot Taylor as an auditor be cancelled. Mr Taylor, a director of Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd (Grant Thornton), was Lead Auditor on the audit performed by Grant Thornton of the financial report of the consolidated entity comprising iSignthis Limited and its subsidiaries.
The Panel was satisfied that Mr Taylor had failed in his duty as Lead Auditor to ensure that Grant Thornton performed the audit in accordance with auditing standards.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 911 KB)
Read the Media Release (PDF 86.7 KB)
Federal Court of Australia decision regarding status of CADB as expert or specialist Board - Williams v CADB
18 June 2025
On 18 June 2025, Justice Perry of the Federal Court of Australia handed down the decision in Williams v CADB [2025] FCA 629 in which she dismissed an application for the review of the decision of the Board in ASIC v Williams made on 5 December 2018.
In doing so, Justice Perry held that CADB is "properly regarded as an expert or specialised board and is therefore entitled to rely upon its expertise and specialised knowledge subject to the obligation to act in accordance with procedural fairness”.
Submission by CADB to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Performance Audit of the effectiveness of ASIC’s regulation of registered company auditors
9 May 2025
The ANAO has commenced a performance audit assessing the effectiveness of ASIC's regulation of registered company auditors (the Audit). On 12 February 2025, ANAO invited a contribution from CADB in relation to the Audit.
Read the submission (PDF 400 KB)
CADB suspends the registration of New South Wales company auditor
11 December 2024
The Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board has ordered the suspension of the registration as a company auditor of Joseph John Santangelo until 1 June 2026 and ordered Mr Santangelo to give a series of undertakings to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 894 KB)
Read the media release (PDF 111 KB)
CADB suspends the registration of New South Wales auditor
27 September 2023
The Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board has ordered the 12 month suspension of the registration as a company auditor of Mr Rocco (Roy) Luciano Spagnolo. CADB has made this order on the application to it by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 424 KB)
Read the media release (PDF 61 KB)
CADB suspends the registration of New South Wales company auditor
17 March 2022
The Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board has made orders that:
- The registration of Mr Jakin Leong Loke as a Company Auditor be suspended for twelve months.
- Mr Loke provide undertakings to ASIC including:
- To undertake 45 additional hours of professional education comprising at least 15 hours annually for the next three years.
- At his cost to retain a registered company auditor approved in advance by ASIC, as a peer reviewer to oversee the first three company audits he conducts following the resumption of his registration as a Company Auditor.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 556 KB)
Read the media release (PDF 66 KB)
CADB cancels the registration of New South Wales auditor
16 September 2021
The Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board has ordered the cancellation of the registration as a company auditor of Mr Robert James Evett, who practised in Sydney.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 1 MB)
Read the media release (PDF 60 KB)
CADB cancels the registration of Queensland auditor
9 April 2019
The Companies Auditors Disciplinary Board has ordered the cancellation of the registration as an auditor of Mr Reginald Lance Williams, who practised on the Gold Coast.
Read the Decision and Reasons (PDF 1.8 MB)
Read the media release (PDF 83 KB)
Media release archive
Related information
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Legislation
Links to key legislation relating to CADB
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Annual Reports
CADB annual reports from 2002-2003 to present
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List of CADB decisions
Read decisions published by the Board under section 1296 of the Corporations Act 2001
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Court and tribunal decisions involving CADB
Decisions of Australian Courts and and Australian tribunals which deal with CADB and matters relevant to its jurisdiction