AMP facing criminal charges at royal commission

Rowena Orr QC is currently providing closing statements in the royal commission's financial advice and wealth management hearings.

Turning first to the evidence of AMP group executive, advice and NZ, Jack Regan, Ms Orr said the executive had admitted to conduct that was "unlawful and ethically and morally wrong".

She reminded the commission that AMP has made "20 false and misleading statements in 12 communications" to ASIC, which is tantamount to breaches of both the Corporations Act and ASIC Act.

Ms Orr described AMP's claims that Clayton Utz's review of its BOLR policy was "independent" was "materially incorrect" and intended to deceive the regulator. 

She described the conduct of AMP as "unconscionable".

A number of the contraventions listed by Ms Orr carry criminal penalties.

"It is open to the Commissioner to find that this conduct is attributable, in least in part, to the culture [of AMP]," she concluded.