Australian federal public records and research resources.
How to use this page
A curated research starting point. Sources listed below are public-record gateways and official registries we have evaluated for reliability and active maintenance.
Use each link to access the source directly. Lawful basis, professional purpose, and compliance with each source’s terms remain the user’s responsibility.
For investigative work in a specific matter, contact us through the channels below.
A curated index of Commonwealth-level public registers, court databases, and research starting points relevant to corporate, regulatory, and legal research in Australia.
For sanctions and watchlist sources, see International Sanctions & Watchlists.
Corporate, business, and regulated entities
ASIC Connect — Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Type: Corporate registry and licence registry. · Maintained by: ASIC (Commonwealth statutory regulator).
Cost / access: Free basic searches (company name, status, directors). Paid for downloadable documents. Online account optional.
Useful for: Verifying registered Australian companies, business names, AFS licence holders, credit licences, registered managed investment schemes, registered auditors, and SMSF auditors.
Limitations: Free tier returns summary data only. Historical filings and document downloads are paid. Does not cover state-level business registrations.
Official link: connectonline.asic.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Australian Business Register (ABR) — ABN Lookup
Type: Business identity register. · Maintained by: Australian Taxation Office on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Cost / access: Free, no registration.
Useful for: Verifying Australian Business Numbers (ABN), GST registration status, trading names, business name history, and ANZSIC classification.
Limitations: Identity and contact details are not returned for privacy reasons. Does not provide corporate hierarchy or ownership.
Official link: abr.business.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) — Register of regulated entities
Type: Regulated entity register. · Maintained by: APRA (Commonwealth statutory regulator).
Cost / access: Free, no registration.
Useful for: Confirming whether a bank, insurer, friendly society, superannuation fund, or other prudentially-regulated body is licensed by APRA, and the conditions of any authority.
Limitations: Does not include credit providers or non-prudentially-regulated financial services (those are with ASIC).
Official link: www.apra.gov.au/register-of-authorised-deposit-taking-institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
Type: Charity register. · Maintained by: ACNC (Commonwealth statutory regulator).
Cost / access: Free, no registration.
Useful for: Registered charity status, governance documents, annual information statements, financial reports, and responsible-person register.
Limitations: Covers registered charities only; does not cover all not-for-profits.
Official link: www.acnc.gov.au/charity · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Bankruptcy and insolvency
National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) — AFSA
Type: Personal insolvency register. · Maintained by: Australian Financial Security Authority.
Cost / access: Paid search (per-search fee). Registration required.
Useful for: Identifying current and historical personal bankruptcies, debt agreements, personal insolvency agreements, and Part X arrangements.
Limitations: Personal insolvencies only. Corporate insolvencies are with ASIC.
Official link: www.afsa.gov.au/online-services/national-personal-insolvency-index-npii · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR)
Type: Secured-interests register. · Maintained by: Australian Financial Security Authority.
Cost / access: Per-search fee. Online account optional.
Useful for: Identifying registered security interests over personal property — including motor vehicles, plant and equipment, intellectual property, and intangibles. Important for asset-tracing and pre-acquisition diligence.
Limitations: Does not cover real property; that is in state land titles registers.
Official link: www.ppsr.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Courts and case law
Federal Court of Australia — Federal Court Judgments
Type: Court judgments database. · Maintained by: Federal Court of Australia.
Cost / access: Free for published judgments.
Useful for: Federal civil and commercial matters, intellectual property, trade practices, admiralty, native title, migration appeals, bankruptcy.
Limitations: Published judgments only — many proceedings settle or are decided without published reasons.
Official link: www.fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-library/judgments · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
High Court of Australia — Judgments
Type: Final-court judgments database. · Maintained by: High Court of Australia.
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Final-appeal judgments and constitutional decisions.
Limitations: Final-appeal jurisdiction only. Most matters never reach the High Court.
Official link: www.hcourt.gov.au/judgments · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
AustLII — Australasian Legal Information Institute
Type: Aggregated case law and legislation. · Maintained by: AustLII (academic, not-for-profit).
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Consolidated full-text search across federal, state, and territory court decisions; current and historical legislation; tribunals; law-reform documents. Often the fastest starting point for Australian case-law research.
Limitations: Database is not always complete for every state tribunal. Coverage gaps exist for less-reported matters.
Official link: www.austlii.edu.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Intellectual property
IP Australia
Type: Patents, trademarks, designs, and plant breeders’ rights registers. · Maintained by: IP Australia (Commonwealth statutory regulator).
Cost / access: Free search. Paid filing.
Useful for: Verifying registered IP rights, ownership of marks, expiry, oppositions, and prosecution history.
Limitations: Australian-registered rights only. International rights via WIPO or jurisdiction-specific offices.
Official link: search.ipaustralia.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Sanctions and regulated dealings
Australian Sanctions Office — Consolidated List
Type: Australian autonomous sanctions list. · Maintained by: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Cost / access: Free, no registration.
Useful for: Identifying persons and entities subject to Australian autonomous sanctions and UN Security Council sanctions implemented under Australian law.
Limitations: Australian-administered sanctions only. For OFAC, OFSI, EU, or other jurisdictions, see International Sanctions & Watchlists.
Official link: www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/sanctions/consolidated-list · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Government, legislation, and procurement
Federal Register of Legislation
Type: Consolidated Commonwealth legislation register. · Maintained by: Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Current and historical Commonwealth Acts and instruments, including consolidations and as-passed versions, explanatory memoranda, and amendment histories.
Limitations: Commonwealth only. State legislation is via each state’s parliamentary counsel.
Official link: www.legislation.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
AusTender
Type: Commonwealth government procurement register. · Maintained by: Department of Finance.
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Australian Government contract awards, tender opportunities, panel arrangements, and counterparty histories with the Commonwealth.
Limitations: Commonwealth contracts only. State and local procurement are separate.
Official link: www.tenders.gov.au · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Commonwealth Gazette
Type: Official government notification register. · Maintained by: Attorney-General’s Department.
Cost / access: Free.
Useful for: Statutory appointments, designated proclamations, official notices, and certain regulatory determinations.
Limitations: Coverage varies by notice type. Searchability is limited compared to subscription tools.
Official link: www.legislation.gov.au/gazette · Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.
Disclaimer
General information only. This directory is provided for general information and professional research purposes only. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or due-diligence advice. Information found through any third-party source is not verified by Transglobal Intel Net.
Third-party sources. Transglobal Intel Net does not control, certify, or guarantee the accuracy, currency, or completeness of any source listed. Links are provided as starting points. Each source is maintained independently by its respective authority.
Access conditions. Some sources require payment, registration, lawful-purpose attestation, or local professional access. Users are responsible for compliance with each source’s terms of use and with applicable law.
Not a Transglobal service. Listing a source in this directory does not constitute an endorsement, a recommendation, or a Transglobal service. The directory is a reference index, not an investigative product.
Lawful use only. Users must have a lawful basis for any search undertaken. Users are responsible for compliance with privacy law, data-protection law, anti-stalking law, and any other applicable framework in their jurisdiction.
Reservation. Transglobal Intel Net may add, remove, or modify entries without notice. Outdated entries are reviewed quarterly and updated as resources change.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-24.