A year of growth and advocacy for the PFA - a message from Gregory Preston AM, PFA President
Gregory Preston AM, PFA President
Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA) is passionate about our role as the voice of the unlisted property funds industry.
We have proudly advocated for the unlisted property funds and commercial property industry across our regular meetings with the corporate regulator, in responding to special issues, and by meeting with government.
With Treasury recently announcing a consultation paper which proposes to enhance oversight and governance of Managed Investment Schemes by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), we are currently working on a submission, which is due by the end of February 2026, to ensure our industry is heard.
This follows an active 2025, where we received the good news that the parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (PJC) decided to leave the wholesale investor test thresholds unchanged. PFA had made a submission opposing the changes and had the opportunity to present to the PJC during 2024, in the lead up to this decision.
In 2025 PFA also responded to a proposal by ASIC to publish dashboards of firm-level Reportable Situations (RS) data and Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) data. Our Issues & Regulatory Committee provided a submission questioning the wisdom of ‘naming and shaming’ investment schemes, saying it could act as a disincentive to reporting.
ASIC shelved plans to publish firm-level RS data, but pushed ahead with making IDR data public.
PFA was also pleased to see Treasury wind back plans to tax unrealised gains on investments as part of its amended superannuation tax changes, which would have had a disproportionate impact on unlisted property and other illiquid investments.
The PFA Issues & Regulatory Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure PFA’s voice is heard, and will continue to do so.
In late 2025, PFA also engaged public affairs firm, the York Park Group, to advise and connect PFA with government. This has started well and reflects PFA’s determination to keep going in to bat for unlisted property funds.
When looking ahead to 2026, there has never been a better time to be a member of the PFA. The Association continues to grow, with a net increase in member across 2025, and continues to engage with industry via many more events and networking opportunities.
Our events program increased once again across 2025, and we are looking ahead to a huge calendar during 2026.
The events centrepiece is the PFA 2026 Conference, which will be held in Adelaide from 19-21 April 2026. A quality program has been assembled by our Conference and Events Committee, and we expect a fantastic Conference. The event will also see the next winner of the PFA Environment and Sustainability Award, which is announced at the Gala Dinner.
At PFA we always welcome your feedback – please contact us at pfa@propertyfunds.org.au with any feedback or questions.
Not yet a member? Check out some information on PFA membership here.
