July
Law Council calls for anti-money laundering carve-outs
The Law Council of Australia says it supports “balanced” reforms, but will argue for significant carve-outs in relation to client legal privilege.
- Maxim Shanahan
Cattle farmers go to war with Labor over class action
Cattle farmers have accused Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus of launching an appalling, contemptuous and “outrageously misleading” attack on them.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- White collar crime
Why diamond studded Swiss watches and luxury handbags worry AUSTRAC
The financial crimes watchdog’s chief executive Brendan Thomas says luxury goods along with cash and real estate have received its highest risk rating.
- Ronald Mizen
No backward step cutting off money flow to criminals: Dreyfus
The strong words from the attorney-general will come hours after the international body tasked with co-ordinating global AML/CTF efforts slams Australia’s performance.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Insolvency
Labor reveals personal bankruptcy overhaul
The threshold for involuntary bankruptcy will rise to $20,000 and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will also launch consultations for a mini-bankruptcy regime.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Cattle farmers trying to boost profits at taxpayers’ expense: Labor
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the government was not budging on its $215 million offer to settle a decade-old class action.
- Ronald Mizen
Small firms fight push to force data-breach reporting
Before critical cabinet considerations of major privacy reforms, small business groups say now is not the right time to add further compliance costs.
- Tom Burton
June
AAT plagiarist survives administrative cull
The body that decides on immigration appeals is getting a revamp. Though some familiar faces remain.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
Tough jail terms for deepfake porn peddlers under new laws
The creators and sharers of non-consensual sexually explicit material will face up to seven years’ jail under the new rules, which also put pressure on tech firms.
- Paul Smith
Labor launches review into native title ‘inequality and unfairness’
The review will look into the limitations on native title land being used for economic development and how to support consensus among traditional owner groups.
- Ronald Mizen
May
New hate speech laws in focus as social cohesion frays
Anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled on the fence of a Melbourne Jewish school has been condemned by the prime minister as the government considers tougher penalties for hate speech.
- Poppy Johnston
Directors welcome ‘no change’ report on disclosure laws
A review of continuous disclosure laws says the end of the no-fault regime for class actions has had no impact on “meritorious” claims
- Michael Pelly
Labor steps up fight to stop dirty money from buying homes
Proposed anti-money laundering rules will rope in real estate agents and lawyers, amid concerns Australia could become a destination for dirty cash.
- Campbell Kwan
- Exclusive
- Privacy
CBA beats government to start-up opportunity from data breach scandals
Commonwealth Bank has a new app launching on Tuesday to warn citizens when their identity documents are in the wrong hands.
- Paul Smith
April
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Watchdog drops 30pc of cases against CFMEU
The workplace watchdog has filed no new cases against the construction union for 18 months and has dropped 30 per cent of the cases alleging construction union law-breaking it inherited after Labor’s election.
- David Marin-Guzman
Police killings spur $161m national register of firearms
More than 35 years after it was first proposed, a national database will be established to track millions of firearms around the country.
- Tom McIlroy
ASX’s three-month low; Chalmers backs subsidies; Macquarie’s $10m fine
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Disclose lobbyist meetings and federal minister’s diaries: NSW ICAC
The policy intervention from the state corruption watchdog comes ahead of its appearance at a Senate Inquiry on Monday probing access to Parliament House by lobbyists.
- Ronald Mizen
March
Scrap private school religious discrimination rules, Labor advised
The government now has advice it sought from the Australian Law Reform Commission on how to deliver an election promise – but looks unlikely to proceed.
- Ronald Mizen
Dirty money reforms loom as Russians charged over $2m deposits
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is consulting on changes expected to add real estate agents, accountants and lawyers to anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing rules.
- Tom McIlroy
