Three months into the job, the ­nation’s top corporate cop Joe Longo is emerging as much more than just the safe pair of hands that Josh Frydenberg at ASIC’s helm.

Mr Longo has ditched the Kenneth Hayne royal commission-inspired "Why not litigate?" mantra.

Accurate

He hasn't in relation to Mayfair. Rather, it's "How can we litigate?"

"What I want to say to the Australian people is just be cautious dealing with him, anything to do with him because we have obviously been watching very carefully."

Defamatory

This is a most unprofessional statement for the Chairman of the corporate regulator to make about another Australian citizen. Mr Longo warns the Australian public from having "anything to do" with Mr Mawhinney just as ASIC’s cases get appealed. It shows a very desperate regulator afraid of having their case overturned, which is what occurred. It is a harmful, inconsiderate and ought to be retracted.

The Australian

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Joe Longo’s way: new ASIC chairman vows to litigate