Will,
Advice is classified as a recommendation; a statement of opinion or a report that is intended to influence a person making a decision in relation to a particular financial product OR would reasonably be regarded as being intended to have such an influence. So one needs to be very careful otherwise they are classified as providing advice and under the FSRA.
In relation to any advice you may seek or receive, for example, financial intermediaries must be specially licensed or authorised and be able to demonstrate the requisite experience and qualifications. In providing advice to you, advisors must provide you with three types of documents :-
1. First you should get a written statement called a Financial Services Guide (FSG), setting out the terms and basis of their services.
2. If the adviser then provides you with advice specific to your needs you must receive a written Statement of Advice (SOA) setting out the basis of that advice as well as the amount and source of any comissions or other remuneration they received from product providers.
3. Third your adviser or the product providers, such as insurance companies, funds managers and banks must give you a product discloure statement (PDS) before selling any product.
Regarding the acts they can be downloaded from
www.comlaw.gov.au
The acts you are interested in are :
Financial Services Reform Act 2001
Financial Services Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001
Financial Services Reform (Consequental Provisions) Act 2002
Financial Services Reform Amendment Act 2003
If you do actually read these then you have way too much time on your hands and should find a much better hobby like drinking (it will give you the same effect - make you totally numb. but a much more enjoyable way of achieving the same effect)