Prime Minister announces national AI regulation: Key takeaways for investors, developers and operators
On 15 July 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a speech [1] outlining the Australian Government’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. The announcement signals a significant shift from piecemeal, sector-by-sector responses to a unified national framework. Below, we summarise the key announcements and their implications for businesses operating or investing in Australia. Australian standards […]
ReadmoreConsumer Express | May 2026 Edition
In the May 2026 edition of Consumer Express, we unpack the legal developments most relevant to businesses operating in an increasingly complex consumer environment, with a focus on the regulatory reforms and emerging risks shaping the landscape ahead. This edition covers the Federal Government’s proposed prohibition on unfair trading practices, including new rules targeting subscription […]
ReadmoreAI governance in focus: APRA signals key risk areas
APRA’s 30 April 2026 Letter to Industry on Artificial Intelligence (Letter) is a clear signal that the era of informal AI governance is drawing to a close. The Letter followed a targeted review of large banks, insurers and superannuation trustees, with APRA identifying that the pace of AI deployment is consistently outstripping the maturity of […]
ReadmoreBattle of the Brands: Bed Bath ‘N’ Table Triumphs in Landmark High Court Decision
In Bed Bath ‘N’ Table v Global Retail Brands Australia Pty Ltd HCA 50, the High Court of Australia has set aside a judgment of the Full Federal Court and upheld an appeal by Bed Bath ‘N’ Table Ltd (BBNT) in a dispute concerning a competitor’s use the below mark (House B&B Mark). […]
ReadmoreMandatory merger rules are now set
The final ground rules for Australia’s mandatory, suspensory merger notification regime are now set following the Australian Government’s registration of the Competition and Consumer (Notification of Acquisitions) Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Determination 2025 (the Amendment Determination). The Amendment Determination provides welcome, but incomplete, relief to acquisitions of interests in land and other targeted exemptions. It also […]
ReadmoreIntellectual property and AI – Retro-fitting current frameworks for new concepts
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be transforming how we work with information, but it’s also raising a number of questions as to what we ‘own’ – both as to what goes in, and what comes out. For instance, the Productivity Commission’s interim report into Harnessing Data and Digital Technology identified that restrictions on the use of […]
ReadmoreConsumer Express | October 2025 Edition
In the October 2025 edition of Consumer Express, we explore the latest legal and regulatory developments impacting the consumer sector, with a focus on the emerging trends and challenges our clients are navigating. This edition covers the continued growth in online retail spending, driven by the rise of mobile-first shopping experiences, as well as the […]
ReadmoreContracting for AI calls for a nuanced approach
Taking lead from the immortal words of Wet Wet Wet’s Marti Pellow, it is not ‘love’ but AI that is currently ‘all around us’ …it’s everywhere [we] go…’! Since the hyped introduction of gen AI in 2023, to the wave of experimentation that gripped 2024, experts are calling FY25/26 the year of acceleration of enterprise […]
ReadmoreDenmark to let you control the use of your voice and likeness. What about Australia?
If your social media is dipping into uncanny valley territory, you’ve likely found a deepfake. Elegantly described by the eSafety Commissioner, deepfakes are videos, images, or audio showing a real person “doing or saying something that they did not actually do or say”. However, unlike the fakes of yesteryear, new AI technologies are not only […]
ReadmoreDeveloping or procuring AI? Here’s what you need to know
AI tools are bringing paradigm-shifting opportunities that will transform the way we work and interact. In a recent McKinsey survey, 78% of respondents indicated that their organisation uses at least some AI tools – an increase from only 50% prior to the generative AI boom of late 2022, spurred on by the public release of […]
ReadmoreNew mandatory ransomware payment reporting obligations now in force
Introduction Australia has taken a bold step in strengthening its cyber resilience with the introduction of the mandatory ransomware and cyber extortion payment reporting regime under Part 3 of the Cyber Security Act 2024 (Cyber Security Act). Effective from 30 May 2025, this new regime requires certain entities – including businesses with an annual turnover exceeding $3 million and […]
ReadmoreA recipe for controversy: RecipeTin Eats and Bake with Brooki
Key takeaways Although you cannot copyright a caramel slice itself, copyright can subsist in the written recipe as a literary work. However, enforcement is likely to be difficult. Chefs and bakers often draw inspiration from each other’s recipes. However, it is generally expected to seek consent and provide credit or attribution, both respecting moral rights and […]
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