Federal Court confirms $5.8m penalty against Australian Clinical Labs over data breach
The Federal Court has confirmed Australian Clinical Labs (ACL) must pay a $5.8m civil penalty along with $400,000 in legal costs to settle proceedings commenced by the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).[1] The proceedings arose from the OAIC’s investigation into a cybersecurity attack on Medlab Pathology (Medlab) that exposed personal information relating to approximately 223,000 Australians,[2] […]
ReadmoreHow are heritage properties in Victoria now assessed for land tax?
Landowners who own investments properties, commercial properties, holiday homes and vacant land are required to pay land tax. A landowner’s annual land tax is based on the “site value” of all the taxable land owned. The “site value” of land is set by the Valuer-General and reflects the unimproved value of the land, meaning the […]
ReadmoreCorruption and Integrity Update – September 2025
In this edition of the Queensland Corruption and Integrity Update we review the latest updates from key Queensland integrity bodies including the CCC, the Office of the Independent Assessor, the Information Commissioner, the Integrity Commissioner, and the Ombudsman. We also highlighted updates on the operation of the Right to Information and Information Privacy Acts. CCC […]
ReadmoreOver and under, under and over: The future of set-off clauses in employment contracts
Earlier this month, Justice Perram of the Federal Court of Australia issued a lengthy judgment in the consolidated proceedings against supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths in relation to alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act), the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) (FW Regulations) and the General Retail Industry Award 2010 (Award) […]
ReadmoreWhen things go wrong: Expensive lessons arising from inappropriate behaviour in the workplace
Magar v Khan [2025] FCA 874 In this case, the employee (Ms Magar) alleged that during the course of her employment, her employer, the business owner and senior manager (Mr Khan) and other male members of a group of employees, sexually harassed her, harassed her on the ground of sex, and victimised her for complaining […]
ReadmoreI’m working from home today: Lessons from Louise v Metcash
Background The Fair Work Commission has made orders requiring an employer to grant an employee’s request for an exemption from its return to the office mandate. Catherine Louise was employed by Metcash Trading Limited (Metcash) on a full-time basis in an administrative capacity. She had worked remotely since commencing employment with Metcash during the COVID-19 […]
ReadmoreIt’s my right: The state of the debate on proposed work from home rights
Last month, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, announced that the State Labor Government plans to introduce legislation establishing a right to work from home before the 2026 state election. Labor’s proposal would give both public and private sector employees the right to work from home at least two days a week if they can reasonably perform […]
ReadmoreFairer payments on jobsites: Bill to amend the Victorian Security of Payment Act introduced to the Parliament
The Victorian Government has introduced the Building Legislation Amendment (Fairer Payments on Jobsites and Other Matters) Bill 2025 into Parliament, which proposes significant changes to the existing Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (VIC) (Act). These changes aim to improve fairness, transparency, and efficiency in payment practices of the construction industry, broadly […]
ReadmoreLandlords proposed to gain new powers under Queensland’s crackdown on illegal tobacco trade
The Queensland Parliament recently introduced the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (Bill), a sweeping reform aimed at curbing illegal tobacco and nicotine trade across the state. Building on recent regulatory changes, from 1 September 2024, it became a requirement for any retailer or wholesaler of smoking products […]
ReadmoreImportant update for landlords: New tobacco licensing laws in NSW and lease termination rights
The NSW Government has recently passed major changes to tobacco laws that directly affect landlords leasing premises to retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products. What’s changed? As of 1 July 2025, the NSW Tobacco Licensing Scheme is officially in effect. This means: All retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products […]
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 […]
ReadmoreGroundbreaking whistleblower developments – ASIC v TerraCom Limited ACN 143 533 537
On 26 August 2025, the Federal Court of Australia handed down a decision resulting in ASIC’s first enforcement outcome for contraventions of the whistleblower provisions of the Corporations Act (Cth) 2001 (Corporations Act) in ASIC v TerraCom Limited ACN 143 533 537. Background TerraCom Limited ACN 143 533 537 (TerraCom) is a public company listed […]
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