The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has postponed its annual forum and dinner, just hours after Steadfast announced the cancellation of its huge annual conference.

As reported in a Breaking News bulletin earlier today, the Steadfast Convention, due to take place in Perth from March 22, has been cancelled due to “ongoing concerns” about COVID-19.

CEO Robert Kelly says the decision was “not taken lightly” but was necessary to protect the health of the 2000 expected attendees. Tickets will be reimbursed and sponsorships refunded, Steadfast says.

“Our staff, delegates, sponsors, and suppliers are our top priority and we strongly believe this is the right decision given the evolving public health risks, travel concerns and other current circumstances,” Mr Kelly said today.

ASIC reached similar conclusions about its annual forum and dinner, scheduled for March 25 and 26 in Sydney.

The forum was set to explore “the characteristics of a good financial services industry, and how we can all work together to build a system that is efficient, honest and fair”, with Chairman James Shipton and Deputy Chairman Daniel Crennan among speakers.

But ASIC says due to uncertainty over the availability of speakers and delegates and the “evolving situation” on coronavirus, it has “made the difficult decision” to postpone. Full refunds are available.

“ASIC is working to reschedule the Annual Forum and the Annual Dinner,” it said. “We will provide more information in coming weeks.”

Last week the Insurance Council of Australia cancelled its Annual Forum in Sydney. The Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters has also shelved this year’s Asian Claims Convention, which was scheduled to be held next month in Kyoto, Japan.

Public Health Association Australia (PHAA) CEO Terry Slevin told insuranceNEWS.com.au today that each organisation needs to carry out its own risk assessment on events and make its own judgment call.

But he says at this stage the PHAA’s own upcoming World Public Health Nutrition Congress is set to go ahead. The event takes place in Brisbane from March 31 to April 2, with half of the 590 attendees coming from overseas.

“As far as the threat to delegates is concerned we believe that it can be managed with proper hygiene and proper preparation,” he said.

“While we don’t want to expose people to additional risk, we believe that we should proceed as best as possible with business as usual.

“If advice from public health experts – many of whom are our members – changes, then we will of course follow that.”