Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2024 set to shake up the land lease environment
With Australia’s aging population and low-income retirees flocking to downsize their retirement homes, the manufactured homes sector is a growing industry that has now received its first tranche of major reforms and park owners will take the brunt of these changes. In Queensland, the partnership between manufactured park owners and homeowners was regulated by the […]
ReadmoreThe new DBP Act amendments – insurance requirements for Builders remain exempt until 1 July 2025
Amendments to the DBP Act – further 12 month reprieve for DBP Act insurance requirements for Builders Under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) (DBP Act), it is a condition of registration for design and building practitioners that they are ‘adequately insured’ against liabilities arising under the DBP Act including as a result […]
ReadmoreUncovering greenwashing: ASIC’s latest pursuit of accountability – Judgment against Active Super
Last week, the Federal Court found that the superannuation fund Active Super had made misleading representations concerning its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in its investment decision-making. On 10 August 2023, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced proceedings against the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), as trustee of Active Super, […]
ReadmoreOAIC Medibank action a wakeup call for organisations to uplift privacy compliance
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has made data breaches a regulatory priority for 2023-2024, with an increased focus on regulatory action where there may be serious failures to take reasonable steps to protect personal information, inappropriate data retention practices or failures to comply with the notification procedure from the Notifiable Data Breaches […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 11 June 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, AUSTRAC, OAIC and ACCC including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. ASIC 5 million+ Australians have struggled to make loan and debt repayments, yet many not asking for help: ASIC is launching a new awareness campaign Just Ask! Hardship Help […]
ReadmoreNational Integrity Spotlight – May 2024
In this month’s edition of the National Integrity Spotlight, we consider the most recent updates from the NACC, consultation on the prevention of bribery of foreign public officials, and updates from various integrity bodies. NACC Update Referral and Assessment Update The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) continues to provide regular updates on the number of referrals […]
ReadmoreAI’s Ultron Moment – Johansson Takes on OpenAI Over Uncanny Voice Resemblance
You’ve heard of a lookalike, but have you heard of a soundalike? The Aural Uncanny Valley: it’s something that sounds the same as something else, but is just not quite right. New generative AI (gen-AI) tools have boldly gone where no human has gone before, using AI-generated voices to create song covers by your favourite […]
ReadmoreCourt considers whether a concerns notice was validly ‘given’ to commence a defamation proceeding
Gadens acted for the successful Defendant in the decision of Khan v Hassan [2023] VCC 852 where the court strictly applied requirements under the Defamation Act 2005 (Vic) (the Act) that must be met when serving a concerns notice to commence a defamation proceeding. The new requirement to give a valid concerns notice and wait […]
ReadmoreGadens Regulatory Recap – 29 May 2024
This edition of the Gadens Regulatory Recap highlights recent developments from ASIC, APRA, AFCA, ATO, AUSTRAC, OAIC, ACCC, Treasury and the RBA, including various enforcement actions taken by the regulators. Federal Budget Federal Government Budget: The Federal Government announced the 2024-25 Federal Budget on 14 May 2024, setting the Government’s key policy agenda for the […]
ReadmoreWhat you need to know about upcoming superannuation changes
With the new financial year upon us, employers should note some important changes to key superannuation caps, rates and obligations. Increase to the superannuation guarantee contribution (SGC) rate The SGC rate will increase from 11% to 11.5% on 1 July 2024. The rate will then continue to increase from 11.5% to 12% on 1 July […]
ReadmoreCorruption and Integrity Update – April 2024
In this edition of the Queensland Corruption and Integrity Update we consider a number of Councillor Conduct Tribunal (CCT) matters, recent parliamentary matters of privilege, the inquiry into the report into the Queensland Audit Office (QAO), and the independent review into the Crime and Corruption Commission’s reporting on the performance of its corruption functions (CCC […]
ReadmoreMandatory sustainability reporting regime: An update – Second reading debate completed
In the March 2024 edition of Gadens’ FMCG Express, we discussed the exposure draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2024: Climate-related financial disclosure (Draft Legislation), which outlined a proposal for the implementation of a mandatory climate-related financial disclosure regime based on existing international frameworks and standards. On 27 March 2024, the Treasury Laws Amendment […]
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