02 November 2012 6:42am

Retail trading in government securities moved a step closer yesterday, following the passage of enabling legislation in the Senate.

The Treasurer, Wayne Swan, said in a statement that the new law, Commonwealth Government Securities Legislation Amendment (Retail Trading) Bill,  provided a legal framework for allowing retail investors to participate in the government securities market and applied the investor protection regime in the Corporations Act to retail trading in the securities.

The Treasurer said he had instructed the Australian Office of Financial Management to...