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Legal updates - Page 5

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·Practice updates

‘I’m taking the dog!’

Brooke Curley considers the legal position of pets as companion animals under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).

September 3, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Australia’s new AML CTF policies: Starter kits, real risks, and lessons from Mounties

Every reporting entity must carry out a risk assessment and have documented AML CTF policies. Reporting entities must comply with their AML CTF policies.

September 3, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Why the “post and boast” Bill is problematic

The Criminal Code Amendment (Post and Boast Offence) Bill 2025 (WA) is highly problematic. It should either be abandoned or, at the very least, substantially amended.

September 2, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

The AML CTF Officer: A new gatekeeper role from 1 July 2026

The AML CTF Compliance Officer will sit at the heart of an organisation’s compliance framework.

August 26, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Countdown to AML CTF compliance: What AUSTRAC expects from lawyers

AUSTRAC has published regulatory expectations, a timetable, and is preparing supporting materials to assist the legal profession.

August 19, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Could SA’s Criminal Priority Programme ease WA’s criminal trial delays?

The core objective of the Criminal Priority Programme has been to reduce delay in sexual offence prosecutions involving complainants who are children or who have a disability.

August 13, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Big month for climate litigation as the legal battles hot up

All eyes were on the Federal Court this month for the key decision in Pabai Pabai v Commonwealth of Australia [2025] FCA 796.

July 30, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Protecting cultural and intellectual property: Comparative ICIP frameworks

The Australian Government has committed to protecting Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.

July 9, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Ethics: Discipline for intimate partner violence

Late in 2024, a Tasmanian Supreme Court judge was found guilty by the Hobart Magistrates Court of committing an assault and engaging in emotional abuse vis-à-vis his former domestic partner.

July 7, 2025

Legal updates·Practice updates

Corporate misconduct and the Systems Intentionality model

As artificial juristic persons, corporations can neither innately think nor act. Yet corporations are now rightly recognised as having the capacity to engage in serious civil and criminal misconduct.

July 7, 2025