The home of news, views and analysis for the WA legal profession

Legal updates

In-depth analysis of case law, legislation, law reform and more.

Legal updates·Practice updates

Dissent in the West: a review of the Public Order Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

April 16, 2026

Oliver Price and the John Curtin Law Clinic review the Public Order Legislation Bill 2026 (WA).

Legal updates·Opinion

Less jail, better justice? Lessons from the UK’s new sentencing Act

April 14, 2026

Isobel Millward, Juris Doctor student at UWA, considers UK sentencing reforms from an Australian context.

April 1, 2026

Understanding Standing Orders: the operating system of the Legislative Assembly

Sergeant-at-Arms/Clerk Assistant (Procedure) Thomas Moorhead delves into the details of Standing Orders.

February 26, 2026

The AUSTRAC starter kit: A practical roadmap

The release of the AUSTRAC legal profession program starter kit marks a significant shift toward a more collaborative and practical regulatory environment, writes Fiona Halsey.

Legal updates·Practice updates

The day-to-day obligations of the ALMCO

In part two of this two-part article, Fiona Halsey delves into what is required of an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer within law firms.

February 18, 2026

Legal updates·Practice updates

The AMLCO role in Australian law firms: A regulatory overview post-30 June

Australian law firms providing designated services on or after 1 July 2026 must appoint an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, writes Fiona Halsey.

February 12, 2026

Legal updates·Practice updates

Australia and Russia in the International Court of Justice: the MH17 case

ANU Law School's Professor Donald R. Rothwell and Olivia Gotting examine a novel ICJ case, which may bring finality to the legal proceedings arising from the downing of MH17.

January 16, 2026

Legal updates·Practice updates

Ethics: inconsistent submissions

Gino Dal Pont considers how to manage ostensibly inconsistent submissions and potential prospects of misleading the court.

December 9, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

High Court settles costs dispute, provides clarity for law practices

The High Court judgment in Gray v Lavan (A Firm) [2025] HCA 42 brings an almost two-decade-long solicitor and client costs dispute to an end.

November 26, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

The road to reform: Western Australia’s outdated driver’s licence laws

WA’s outdated driver’s licence laws are causing unfair hardship, especially for Aboriginal and regional communities. Reforming lifetime disqualifications and extraordinary licence rules could promote progress toward closing the gap.

November 14, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

New adjudication Act passes its second review

Graham Morrow reviews the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA) (SoPA).

November 12, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Preventing irremediable conflict through statutory interpretation: analysing the High Court of Australia’s decision in MZAPC

Exploring an angle of the relationship between the command of parliament and the command of courts orders through statutory interpretation, to prevent potentially irremediable conflicts from arising.

November 5, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Perimenopause misdiagnosis: A negligence claim waiting to happen?

More women are reporting that their symptoms are not just misunderstood, but misdiagnosed, sometimes with serious consequences.

September 17, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

AML CTF: Risk-based assessments – what does this mean?

Central to the AML CTF framework are two interconnected types of risk assessment: the Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing risk assessment and the customer-specific ML TF risk assessment, writes Fiona Halsey.

September 12, 2025