This Month
Directors welcome ‘no change’ report on disclosure laws
A review of continuous disclosure laws says the end of the no-fault regime for class actions has had no impact on “meritorious” claims
- Michael Pelly
Labor steps up fight to stop dirty money from buying homes
Proposed anti-money laundering rules will rope in real estate agents and lawyers, amid concerns Australia could become a destination for dirty cash.
- Campbell Kwan
- Exclusive
- Privacy
CBA beats government to start-up opportunity from data breach scandals
Commonwealth Bank has a new app launching on Tuesday to warn citizens when their identity documents are in the wrong hands.
- Paul Smith
April
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Watchdog drops 30pc of cases against CFMEU
The workplace watchdog has filed no new cases against the construction union for 18 months and has dropped 30 per cent of the cases alleging construction union law-breaking it inherited after Labor’s election.
- David Marin-Guzman
Police killings spur $161m national register of firearms
More than 35 years after it was first proposed, a national database will be established to track millions of firearms around the country.
- Tom McIlroy
ASX’s three-month low; Chalmers backs subsidies; Macquarie’s $10m fine
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Disclose lobbyist meetings and federal minister’s diaries: NSW ICAC
The policy intervention from the state corruption watchdog comes ahead of its appearance at a Senate Inquiry on Monday probing access to Parliament House by lobbyists.
- Ronald Mizen
March
Scrap private school religious discrimination rules, Labor advised
The government now has advice it sought from the Australian Law Reform Commission on how to deliver an election promise – but looks unlikely to proceed.
- Ronald Mizen
Dirty money reforms loom as Russians charged over $2m deposits
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is consulting on changes expected to add real estate agents, accountants and lawyers to anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing rules.
- Tom McIlroy
February
A fight over a bauxite mine may launch a new era for land rights
The High Court will decide the third great native title case this year, a decision that may overturn every land title in the Northern Territory for 67 years.
- Michael Pelly
December 2023
Privacy watchdog launches inquiry into TikTok’s data collection
The Australian Information Commissioner is scrutinising the company amid claims it has been scraping data without consent from people who don’t even have its app.
- Dominic Giannini
- Opinion
- Leadership lessons
Albanese is running Australia like a low-energy state premier
Labor would be foolish to blame their poll slide solely on interest rates. Their problem is their model of governance belongs in the cheap-money era.
- Tim Wilson and Jason Falinski
Convicted terrorist released from jail after 20 years
Abdul Nacer Benbrika had been convicted of plotting terrorist attacks in 2005.
- Michael Pelly
November 2023
Is David McBride a whistleblower, a criminal or both?
The army lawyer says he leaked secret documents to defend Australian soldiers accused of illegal killings in Afghanistan, not expose them.
- Aaron Patrick
Lawyers, realtors prepare for war against dirty money crackdown
Australia is among a handful of countries that fail to include lawyers, real estate agents and accountants in anti-money-laundering protections. Legislation is expected next year.
- Tom McIlroy
HWL, Maddocks among law firms named and shamed for pro bono failures
Four of the 10 largest government legal fee earners fail to meet pro bono annual target of 35 hours per lawyer, including the Australian Government Solicitor.
- Maxim Shanahan
Man’s win over ‘affront to justice’ prompts protections for judiciary
Judge Salvatore Vasta sentenced a father of two to jail for contempt over a supposed failure to provide details of his betting accounts, a move later described as a “gross miscarriage of justice”.
- Ronald Mizen and Michael Pelly
October 2023
High Court allows government to appeal late Yunupingu’s case
The High Court has granted the federal government special leave to appeal the late Gumatj leader Yunupingu’s final court case.
- Rudi Maxwell and Paul Osborne
Legal profession needs more female leaders: Kiefel
High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel says there is “still much to be done within the profession to advance women”.
- Michael Pelly
Yes campaign missed an opportunity with Chinese-Australians
Prominent Chinese-Australians say members of their community are more likely to trust local leaders than politicians, and the Yes campaign could have done much better in the referendum.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing