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Case notes

Short, sweet and must-know analysis of recent cases.

High Court judgments: October 2026

October 9, 2026

Chaplin v Secretary, Department of Social Services [2026] HCA 22 and Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Web3 Ventures Pty Ltd [2026] HCA 21 and Cullen v New South Wales [2026] HCA 19

Case notes·Legal updates

Deconflicting best interests: Lessons from Farrugia v The King

September 28, 2026

Gad Coffie, Dr Brett Davies and Dr Sue Kee explore the High Court’s decision and conflicts arising from joint representation, professional duties, privilege and practical implications for practitioners in Farrugia v The King [2026] HCA 28.

September 21, 2026

Covert recordings: Evidence or legal risk?

Brooke Curley considers the High Court decision on covert recordings, raising important questions about legality and admissibility in family law and family violence proceedings in Potter v The King [2026] HCA 25.

September 18, 2026

Federal Court judgments: September 2026

LPDT v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2026] FCA 332 and Staunton v MHK [2026] FCA 546 and Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd v Tickle [2026] FCAFC 64

Case notes·Practice updates

High Court judgments: September 2026

CCDM Holdings LLC v India [2026] HCA 9 and In Hopper v Victoria [2026] HCA 11

September 1, 2026

Case notes

“Somebody get these beggars out of here!” – FCA grants extended site blocking orders to protect The Odyssey from online piracy

William Bevan considers new copyright precedent set by the Federal Court granting extended site blocking orders and urgent interlocutory relief in Universal City Studios Productions LLLP v Telstra Limited (No 2) [2026].

August 28, 2026

Case notes

Case note: Four properties, millions of debt and a lender’s bid for recovery

Keleigh Robinson and Craig Nichol from the Family Law Book summarise O Pty Ltd v Calvo [2026].

August 18, 2026

Case notes

Case note: Court places newborn with intended parents pending parentage determination

Keleigh Robinson and Craig Nichol from the Family Law Book summarise Taggard & Gowden [2026].

August 13, 2026

Case notes

Full Court clarifies key federal sentencing principles

Nicholas Hodgkinson considers why the Federal Court reduced an insider trading sentence in Forrest v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions [2026].

August 10, 2026

Case notes

Cold case, new evidence: Court admits victim’s Family Court affidavit in landmark hearsay ruling

Nicholas Hodgkinson summarises a ruling confirming deceased witnesses' affidavits may be admissible under WA's new Evidence Act 2025 in WA v Reddington [No 4] [2026].

August 4, 2026

Case notes

Case note: Trust funds, leave entitlements and the property pool – Full Court draws the line

Keleigh Robinson and Craig Nichol from the Family Law Book summarise Anselmo [2026].

August 3, 2026

Case notes

High Court reinforces exemplary damages against governments for systemic misconduct

Nicholas Hodgkinson and Thomas O'Keefe consider why the High Court confirmed governments can face exemplary damages in Austral v Northern Territory of Australia [2026].

July 31, 2026

Case notes

$150 million for cultural loss: Yindjibarndi compensation ruling rewrites native title history

Isobel Millward, Juris Doctor student at UWA, and Greg McIntyre review Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2026].

July 30, 2026

Case notes·Legal updates

The troubled rollout of WA’s Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023

Joel Trigg discusses why Western Australia’s new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 face tax complications, administrative failures and controversial reforms undermining injured workers’ rights.

July 28, 2026

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Case notes

High Court judgments: October 2026

Deconflicting best interests: Lessons from Farrugia v The King

Covert recordings: Evidence or legal risk?

Federal Court judgments: September 2026

High Court judgments: September 2026

“Somebody get these beggars out of here!” – FCA grants extended site blocking orders to protect The Odyssey from online piracy

Case note: Four properties, millions of debt and a lender’s bid for recovery

Case note: Court places newborn with intended parents pending parentage determination

Full Court clarifies key federal sentencing principles

Cold case, new evidence: Court admits victim’s Family Court affidavit in landmark hearsay ruling

Case note: Trust funds, leave entitlements and the property pool – Full Court draws the line

High Court reinforces exemplary damages against governments for systemic misconduct

$150 million for cultural loss: Yindjibarndi compensation ruling rewrites native title history

The troubled rollout of WA’s Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023

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