The Australian Government last week introduced the long-anticipated Bill overhauling the Australian merger review regime to bring it into line with most international jurisdictions. The proposed...
The Australian Government has tabled its Cyber Security Legislative Package, which includes an obligation to notify the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Signals Directorate (or another...
As Australia debates reforms to non-compete clauses, the implications for venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms are significant, particularly regarding business sales and funding...
While all eyes have been on the recent introduction of the privacy reform Bill to Parliament, there have been a number of other updates that continue to inform the shifting patterns of opportunity,...
ASX recently published a Listed@ASX Compliance Update with a focus on observations and practical guidance for listed entities when preparing notices of meetings and other meeting materials. This...
New legislation requiring climate-related financial disclosure (CRFD) in annual reports commenced on 18 September 2024. A “sustainability report” will now be mandatory for very large, large and...
Every Australian state and territory has now delivered its 2024-25 state budget. We summarise the most notable inclusions.
On 8 September 2024, the Honourable Robert French AC released the ‘Report of the Independent Legal Examination into Banning Children’s Access to Social Media’ (French Review) which includes a...
Finally, the Australian Government has initiated the long-waited for Tranche 2 reforms to its anti-money laundering regime with considerable fanfare.
The rise of digitalisation has undeniably influenced global value chains. This transformation has led to the emergence of new business models associated with app stores, online advertising, cloud...
The Government has tabled in Parliament a Bill containing 23 of the 25 privacy reform proposals agreed to by the Government. A large number of “agreed in principle” reforms have been deferred to a...
The spring edition of our Above Board update covers need-to-know developments in corporate governance and board practice for the quarter.
There is a significant movement towards embedding the concept of nature positive into Federal and State environmental legislation. This raises the questions: why is nature positive a focus for...
The Federal Government has this week released a Voluntary AI Safety Standard and a consultation paper on ‘Safe and responsible AI in Australia’ for introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high...
On Friday, Treasury released a consultation paper outlining its proposed merger notification thresholds, as part of the upcoming overhaul of Australia’s merger law regime.
The Federal Government has released its response to the independent review of the changes to the continuous disclosure laws.
In a cruel twist of irony, two of NSW’s premier minerals projects, approved by the NSW Government within just days of one another, have been nullified on the same day through two separate decisions.
The right to disconnect, a new definition of employee/employer, casual employment, unfair contract terms and regulated workers – these changes are now in force (as of 26 August). While the second...
The High Court has found in favour of the ACCC in an important proceeding raising fundamental issues concerning the scope of the systemic unconscionable conduct prohibition and the principles...
The Victorian Court of Appeal has entrenched as law a broad meaning of “associated transactions” in its recent decision involving Oliver Hume Property Funds and the Commissioner of State Revenue.
The recent public hearings from the 2024 Independent Inquiry into The Star Entertainment Group conducted by Adam Bell SC have brought to the forefront the issue of corporate culture and, in...
The Treasurer has now released draft legislation for the new Australian merger control regime, which will come into effect on 1 January 2026, subject to the legislation’s passage through Parliament.
Employers and other persons conducting businesses or undertakings (PCBUs) in NSW have – since 1 October 2022 – been required to include psychosocial hazards in their assessment of workplace hazards...
The Federal Court last week handed down its decision in Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Firstmac Limited [2024] FCA 737. ASIC was successful in its claim that Firstmac Limited...
Usually who serves on the board of a listed company is a matter for the company itself and others, including the courts, only rarely intervene. That’s why the Takeovers Panel’s order requiring...