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EU Standard Contractual Clauses – out with the old and in with the new!

On 4 June 2021, the European Commission (EC) released the highly anticipated new Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for cross-border transfers of data under the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The SCCs are a vital tool to enable the compliant international transfer of personal data from the EEA. The new SCCs take into […]

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‘A reasonable and commercial construction?’ Patent time extensions after Ono Pharmaceuticals

The Federal Court of Australia has ordered the Commissioner of Patents to grant Bristol Myer Squibb (BMS) a patent term extension (PTE) for cancer drug Opdivo until 2031, providing certainty to industry around Australia’s intellectual property regime. Background BMS and Ono Pharmaceutical sought judicial review by the Federal Court of Australia after the Australian Patents […]

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COVID-19 | TGA updates guidance for advertising of COVID-19 vaccines to Australian public

In February 2021, we provided an update on the guidance issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding the advertising of COVID-19 vaccines to the Australian public. That update is available here: COVID-19 | TGA issues guidance for advertising of COVID-19 vaccines to Australian public. Under the previous guidance, advertisers were restricted to republishing materials […]

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Noosa Shire Council enforcement notices for unlawful vegetation clearing held to be defective

In April 2019, Noosa Shire Council issued multiple enforcement notices to the joint owners of a large rural parcel alleging unlawful vegetation clearing being a development offence under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld) (PA). All of the recipients appealed against the enforcement notices to the Planning and Environment Court which in Serratore & Anor v […]

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Councillor roles in development matters

The conduct of councillors in development matters and their dealings with developers and submitters is often controversial and can pose corruption and misconduct risks. To assist councillors and others manage this engagement, the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) has released guidance. The OIA is an independent statutory body responsible for assessing, investigating and prosecuting […]

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Coastal Adaption Planning

Like other coastal councils in Queensland, the City of Gold Coast is focused on managing coastal adaption. To this end, Council’s Coast Adaption Plan (CAP) is the latest step from Council and is intended to guide future investigations and actions. Background The City of Gold Coast is one of Australia’s most iconic coastal cities with […]

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New wave of litigation expected to hit Australia’s eroding shoreline

Last week, the Federal Court of Australia embarked on what is predicted to be a landmark decision, in the matter of AGL v Greenpeace Australia Pacific (Greenpeace). The case involves allegations by AGL that Greenpeace infringed its trademark rights and copyright when it featured AGL’s logo in a recent ad campaign, designed to pressure the […]

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Industrial Manslaughter legislation on the way in WA

The director of MT Sheds (WA) Pty Ltd, Mark Thomas Withers, was sentenced two years and two months imprisonment (18 months suspended) and fined $2,250 for gross negligence causing death in relation to the 2020 death of a young worker and the serious injury of another. Both Mr Wither’s and his company pleaded guilty to […]

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Drawing Inferences – the extent that evidence can be inferred

In Ross, in the matter of Print Mail Logistics (International) Pty Ltd (in liq) v Elias,[1] the Federal Court considered the extent to which a Jones v Dunkel[2] inference can be made. There were three factual issues to be determined by the Court and both parties relied heavily on inferences to prove their case. Ultimately, […]

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The ‘Constitutional Imperative’ – a bankrupt’s right to review a sequestration order

In Bechara v Bates,[1] the Full Federal Court reminds us of the proper procedure for review of a sequestration order made by a registrar. This case raises an important point about bankruptcy practice and procedure in the Federal Circuit Court and the Federal Court. Sometimes described as a ‘constitutional imperative’, a bankrupt is entitled to […]

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If you have a need for speed, don’t allow this to compromise the correct registration of your PPSR security interest

In Rohrt, in the matter of Rose Guerin and Partners Pty Ltd (in liq) v Princes Square W24NY Pty Ltd,[1] the Federal Court of Australia held that as BMW failed to correctly register their security interest in a 2017 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso (by registering against the ACN of a corporate trustee but not against the […]

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The Federal Court takes aim in Gunns – and extinguishes the Peak Indebtedness Rule in Australia

On 10 May 2021 in Badenoch Integrated Logging Pty Ltd v Bryant, in the matter of Gunns Limited (in liq)(receivers and managers apptd)[i]  the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia abolished the application of the Peak Indebtedness Rule to a running account ‘single transaction’ under section 588FA(3) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) […]

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