McEwan v Merrin (Magistrate) and Ors [2023] QSC 6 – Be careful how you draft!
McEwan v Merrin (Magistrate) & Ors [2023] QSC 6 is a judgment by Brown J in the Supreme Court of Queensland where the matter for decision was whether leave should be given to issue a claim and statement of claim (together, the claim) under rule 15 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) (UCPR). […]
ReadmoreMajority shareholder in the Savannah: The Federal Court of Australia decision in VRM Global Holdings Pty Ltd v Savannah AG Research Pty Ltd (Admin Apptd) [2023] FCA 131
In a recent case involving Savannah AG Research Pty Ltd (Savannah), the Federal Court of Australia considered an application for relief by Savannah’s majority shareholder under section 447A(1) or section 447C(2) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) which alleged that the directors did not hold a genuine opinion Savannah was insolvent or likely to become insolvent and […]
ReadmoreLiquidator exposed to personal liability after half-built boat left exposed to the elements
In Reel Action Sports Fishing Pty Ltd v Marine Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd, [1] the Court offered a timely warning to liquidators of the dangers of adopting and acting on an incorrect understanding of the ownership of contested property. The Court ordered damages against the liquidator personally, despite his position as agent for the company […]
ReadmoreA novel approach to review of ‘too high’ land valuations in Victoria
On 9 March 2023 the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has sought to settle a much contested area of law in respect to the review of a valuation of land in the preliminary decision in S & JG Investments Pty Ltd v Valuer-General Victoria (Land Valuation) [2023] VCAT 246 (S & JG Investments). In […]
ReadmoreQueensland Corruption and Integrity Update – March 2023
This month’s edition of the Corruption and Integrity Update considers the latest report on the implementation of recommendations arising from the Commission of Inquiry into the Crime and Corruption Commission, the review of the QCAT Act, an appeal on the basis of the Queensland DNA Inquiry, an application for a permanent stay of corruption proceedings, […]
ReadmoreACCC internet sweep uncovers concerning environmental and sustainability claims
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has completed its anticipated internet sweep following clear messaging last year that the regulator would crackdown on misleading environmental claims. More than half of the businesses that were subject to the ACCC’s internet sweep in October 2022 were considered to have made concerning misleading claims about their environmental […]
ReadmoreRegulatory action for greenwashing is upon us
Last week, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced civil penalty proceedings for alleged greenwashing against Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited (Mercer). This is in addition to ASIC having issued penalty notices to at least four companies for alleged greenwashing, since October 2022. Last year, ASIC identified investigating greenwashing and taking enforcement action where greenwashing […]
ReadmoreQueensland Corruption and Integrity Update – February 2023
This month’s Queensland Corruption and Integrity Update provides an overview of the recent Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee meetings and associated public reports, details findings of misconduct against a Toowoomba Regional Council Councillor, discusses the official corruption charges against Brisbane barrister Salvatore ‘Sam’ Di Carlo and highlights developments arising from the review of the Public […]
ReadmorePenalties for consumer law breaches on the rise: Federal Court finds Employsure penalty ‘manifestly inadequate’
The recent Employsure decision makes it very clear that penalties for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), particularly where those breaches occur online, cannot be considered a ‘cost of doing business’ by companies assessing risks around particular conduct or the adequacy of their compliance program. The Full Federal Court, on an appeal brought by […]
ReadmoreBuy Now Pay Later Options Paper: The reforms start to take shape
On 21 November 2022, the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options paper was released by Treasury for public consultation (Options Paper). The Options Paper examines the regulatory challenges of emerging financial products, particularly BNPL, and the appropriate regulatory approach to maintain the advantages of accessing credit while sufficiently protecting consumers. With the closing date for […]
ReadmoreCorruption and Integrity Update – November 2022
This month’s Corruption and Integrity Update features details of the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation recently passed, the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Service’s responses to domestic and family violence final report, details on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Fitzgerald 2.0 report and updates on both the Public Sector Bill 2022 […]
ReadmoreAFCA has the final word: Courts will only disturb AFCA determinations in limited circumstances
Australia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Australian Financial Complaints Authority Limited [2022] NSWCA 204 The NSW Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that AFCA had jurisdiction to decide that a lender engaged in unconscionable conduct by taking a guarantee such that it was unenforceable and compensation had to be paid, despite the lender […]
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