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

The Singleton decision: High Court quashes NT water licence in landmark Indigenous rights decision

October 5, 2026

Gwynette Govardhan examines the Singleton Station, NT groundwater license decision in the recent High Court ruling.

Legal updates

Simplified initial client due diligence (ICDD): An excellent opportunity to reduce client friction

October 2, 2026

Fiona Halsey explains how to reduce client friction, compliance costs and staff burdens using simplified ICDD under AML CTF rules.

September 28, 2026

Deconflicting best interests: Lessons from Farrugia v The King

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.

Legal updates

Beyond compliance: How the PRIS Act is reshaping privacy governance in Western Australia

Liz Tylich, Ariel Bastian and Anna Kosterich discuss the PRIS Act and how WA privacy moves beyond compliance, strengthening governance and responsible information sharing.

September 16, 2026

Legal updates

‘Breach bail, go to jail’: Qld’s new bail crackdown explained

Zarah Garde-Wilson considers Qld's changes to youth justice laws and how these proposed changes compare with WA's approach.

September 11, 2026

Legal updates

Face value: Guilty unless proven otherwise

Katarzyna Basta and Ross Irish Blase consider WA Police's live facial recognition trial, raising privacy and legal concerns.

September 9, 2026

Legal updates

Franchising law updates: The latest reforms, enforcement trends and case law

Steve Pynt and Isobel Millward consider several recent judgments in the Australian franchising sector including Bakers Delight v Fair Work Ombudsman [2025].

August 25, 2026

Legal updates

Victoria’s 2026 bail reforms and their impact on criminal defence practice

Victoria’s tougher 2026 bail reforms raise the threshold for release, requiring criminal defence lawyers to prepare stronger evidence addressing risk, stability and rehabilitation says Zara Garde-Wilson.

August 20, 2026

Legal updates

The Sword of Damocles: recent and pending tax litigation

Matthew Plint considers Commissioner of Taxation v Bendel [2026] with an ancient Greek mythology lens.

August 17, 2026

Legal updates

Transfer duty bracket creep: An unacknowledged burden

Grahame Young considers how WA’s failure to index transfer duty thresholds has created significant bracket creep, increasing property buyers’ tax burden as values rise.

August 12, 2026

Legal updates

Law update: Implied good faith and development obligations in complex commercial contracts

Kealeigh Barker considers why the Supreme Court of NSW reaffirmed that courts rarely imply good faith or development obligations into sophisticated commercial contracts in Les & Zelda [2026].

August 11, 2026

Legal updates·Opinion

Resetting Australian corporate governance best practice?

Tim Bowley considers the proposed changes to Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations recently released by the ASX.

August 6, 2026

Legal updates

Finding its place: The new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy

Simone Basso and Daniel Kiley consider how Australia’s new privacy tort empowers individuals to pursue serious privacy invasions, with courts now shaping its practical application.

August 5, 2026