SRL East planning controls now in force: What developers need to know
Overview On 14 July 2026, two significant planning scheme amendments were gazetted via Special Government Gazette No. 1432, giving statutory effect to structure plans for the Clayton and Box Hill stations along the Suburban Rail Loop East (SRL East) corridor. These amendments represent the culmination of a process that began with the appointment of the […]
ReadmoreACCC blocks Coles’ proposed Kalgoorlie supermarket: Implications for shopping centre developers, owners and managers
The ACCC has determined that Coles must not put into effect its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest for a new supermarket site in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia. The decision is significant for shopping centre owners, developers and managers because it shows that supermarket anchor tenant arrangements, including proposed leases over greenfield sites, may attract detailed […]
ReadmoreRent review caps upheld under the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic)
Landlords and tenants negotiating Victorian retail leases gain clarity on the use of rent caps. On 16 June 2026, the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal in Northcote Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd [2026] VSCA 140 refused leave to appeal the earlier Supreme Court decision, confirming that contractual caps on rent increases in […]
ReadmoreThe Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026: A new framework for building approvals and oversight of building work in NSW
The NSW Government introduced the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 (NSW) (Building Approvals Bill) that proposes a fundamental restructuring of the building approvals and certification regime while building on the quality and enforcement regime developed in prior legislation. For developers, builders, certifiers and manufacturers, the reforms will change how projects move from design through […]
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 […]
ReadmoreAustralian entrepreneurship left in limbo whilst new trust rules kick the bucket
The Budget announcements regarding capital gains tax will, as currently announced, dramatically reduce the competitiveness of Australia’s innovation and start-up sector. The yet to be designed carve-outs for this new unsettled regime will be an invitation for talent and capital to migrate offshore if the exemptions do not preserve the existing maximum 23.5% tax rate […]
ReadmorePlanning blight, fair compensation and the P&E Amendment Act: what landowners need to know now
Why this case matters for landowners The recent Barrett judgment clarifies how compensation is assessed when a planning reservation constrains development. Most importantly for landowners and claimants, the Court explained where the legal onus lies and how uncertainty in the “before and after” valuation is resolved. The result materially strengthens the position of affected landowners […]
ReadmoreNot the ‘vibe’ – VCAT confirms operator identity is irrelevant to planning permit decisions
McDonald’s Australia Limited v Darebin CC [2026] VCAT 283 (24 April 2026) Key takeaway In the recent Northcote McDonald’s case, VCAT has delivered a clear message: councils cannot refuse a permit amendment simply because the community objects to a particular brand or operator. Where a use is permitted as of right under the planning scheme, […]
ReadmoreLabour and materials prices on the rise: Understanding escalation risk in construction contracts
Price escalation for labour and materials is hitting Australian construction projects hard. Global supply chain disruption, fuel shortages, inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability continue to squeeze project pricing and delivery. This article explores how existing contracts likely deal with inflationary pressures and what options are available to best manage the risk. Part 1: Impact on […]
ReadmoreNSW planning system reforms: What developers need to know
Amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Act that have commenced Our Planning and Environment team has summarised the recent amendments to the EP&A Act that have commenced, along with their implications for developers in NSW. Objects of the EP&A Act amended The objects in section 1.3 of the EP&A Act have been amended […]
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 […]
ReadmoreVictoria’s planning shake up: What developers need to know
Victoria is on the cusp of its most transformative planning reform in decades. The Planning Amendment Better Decisions Made Faster Bill 2025 (Bill) aims to modernise the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Act), streamlining approvals, reducing delays and accelerating housing delivery. These sweeping changes will directly affect landowners and developers, altering permit application processes, planning […]
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