Building certainty on Victoria’s Developer Bond scheme
The summer holiday season has not slowed down progress of the proposed domestic building reforms in Victoria. Draft regulations related to the Building Legislation Amendment (Buyer Protections) Act 2025 (Vic) (Act) were released for public consultation on 18 December 2025 and recently closed on 1 February 2026. In particular, the proposed Building (Developer Bonds) Regulations […]
ReadmoreNo more broken toys: DOCA flexibility powers Toys “R” Us restructure
The Federal Court of Australia recently reaffirmed the flexibility of the Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) regime under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Act).[1] It is well established that a DOCA can be used to transfer shares with approval under s 444GA of the Act. In a decision which the Federal Court described as […]
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 […]
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 […]
ReadmorePublic works can be a real nuisance: Liability risks for public infrastructure
In an important judgment for public authorities procuring major infrastructure works, the High Court has held that, absent unambiguous language, statutory authority is not a blanket immunity to private nuisance claims arising from the conduct of the works. Rather, statutory authority only excuses nuisance if the interference with a person’s ordinary enjoyment of their land […]
ReadmoreAustralia launches AI Safety Institute and releases National AI Plan
The Labor government has recently announced the launch of the Australian AI Safety Institute (AISI), a national watchdog dedicated to ensuring the safe and responsible development of AI in Australia. The government will begin rolling out the AISI in early 2026. The AISI has been developed to oversee the deployment and regulation of AI technology […]
ReadmoreNo likes before sixteen: Australia’s social media minimum age restriction
On 10 December 2025, Australia became the first country to enforce a minimum age requirement for social media accounts. This landmark reform introduces the Social Media Minimum Age obligation (SMMA) under Part 4A of the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) (OSA), requiring platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from creating or […]
ReadmoreMarket recap – Recent key developments in Australian Digital Assets regulation
Australia’s digital assets sector has undergone several major regulatory developments in recent months. Below is a high-level chronological recap of the key consultations, legislative proposals, and updates shaping the industry’s landscape during this period. Treasury consults on exposure draft legislation regulating digital asset platforms On 25 September 2025, Treasury opened consultation on draft legislation to […]
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 […]
ReadmoreA system under strain: The “unsustainable” rise in Fair Work Commission applications
In a statement released earlier this month by Justice Hatcher, President of the Fair Work Commission, the current workload of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has been put under the spotlight.[1] Justice Hatcher expressed concern that the continuing growth in applications is “unsustainable within the Commission’s current operational, performance and funding structures” and compromises “the […]
Readmore2025 year in review: A recap of workplace law changes and upcoming changes in 2026
This past year saw numerous changes to workplace laws and significant case developments. This article provides a summary of the 2025 changes and an overview of some key changes to have on your radar for 2026. Key updates: What employers need to know 1. Employment contracts: The future of set-off clauses In September 2025, the […]
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