Greens Bill to Remove GST on Sanitary Products Passes Senate
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Axe the Tampon Tax) Bill 2018 (CTH) (‘the Bill’) passed the Commonwealth Senate on 18 June 2018. The Bill is for the purpose of removing the goods and services tax (GST) from sanitary products. The Bill is now due to be debated in the House of Representatives.
Fair Work Ombudsman Commences Legal Proceedings Against Foodora
In a recent Media Release from the Fair Work Ombudsman (the “FWO”), it was announced that legal proceedings against food delivery company Foodora Australia Pty Ltd (Foodora) have commenced in the Federal Court of Australia (NSW Registry). The FWO alleges that the company has engaged in sham contracting activity that resulted in the underpayment of workers.
Commonwealth Attorney-General Welcomes PJCIS Report on Espionage and Foreign Interference
Bill
In a Media Release from the Commonwealth Attorney General's office dated 7 June 2018, Attorney General Christian Porter has welcomed the release of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ("the Committee") report into the Government’s National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017, saying that the report was "a major step forward in securing passage of this critical legislation and protecting Australia’s democratic systems from Foreign Interference" and that it was his expectation that the Bill would be considered and passed during the next parliamentary sitting period, later in June 2018.
High Court Allows Appeal from VSC Concerning Stay of Proceedings: Rozenblit v Vainer
[2018] HCA 23
Last Wednesday, 13 June 2018, the High Court of Australia unanimously allowed an appeal from the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The appeal, brought by Mr Rozenblit (the Appellant), concerned an order for a stay of proceedings made by the primary judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria under rule 63.03(3)(a) of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015 (Vic) (the “Rules”). In allowing the appeal, the High Court unanimously held that the primary judge’s discretion to stay the original proceedings was miscarried.
High Court Allows Appeal in Defamation Case from VSCA: Trkulja v Google LLC [2018]
HCA 25
Last week, on 13 June 2018, the High Court of Australia unanimously allowed an appeal from the Supreme Court of Victoria’s Court of Appeal (VSCA). The decision overturned was a summary dismissal of a defamation proceeding brought by Michael Trkulja (the “Appellant”) against Google LLC (the “Respondent”). The Court, with Chief Justice Kiefel, Justices Bell, Keane, Nettle and Gordon residing, held that the proceeding has a real prospect of success, contrary to the judgment of the VSCA. The proceeding was summarised by the full court at paragraph [1]:
Amaca Pty Limited v Latz [2018] HCA 22: Expectation of Aged Pension
The High Court has published its reasons for the orders it made on 11 May 2018 in Amaca Pty Limited v Latz; Latz v Amaca Pty Limited [2018] HCA 22 (13 June 2018), allowing in part, an appeal brought by Amaca Pty Limited ("Amaca") from a decision of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia, and dismissing an appeal brought by Mr Anthony Latz from that decision (see Amaca Pty Ltd v Latz [2017] SASCFC 145 (30 October 2017)).
Victorian Govt Introduces Bill to Implement 6 Royal Commission into Family Violence
Recommendations
Last week, on 5 June 2018, the Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula introduced the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence Protection and Other Matters) Bill 2018 (Vic) (the “Bill”) into the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The Bill was introduced with the purpose of implementing 6 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence (the “Royal Commission”). The Royal Commission tabled their final report to Parliament in March 2016. The 6 recommendations proposed to be implemented by the Bill were outlined in the explanatory memorandum to the Bill (page 1), and relate to:
Ticket Scalping Prevention Laws: Recent Developments
Ticket scalping refers to a situation where persons, known as "scalpers", systematically buy a large number of sport or entertainment event tickets with the sole aim of reselling them for a higher price than the initial purchase price. In two jurisdictions there have been recent changes to the fair trading laws to attempt to make "ticket scalping" more difficult. The two jurisdictions are New South Wales and South Australia.
ACCC Investigation Leads to Cartel Conduct Charges Being Laid Against Banks
In a recent ACCC Media Release, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the “ACCC”) revealed that following an investigation, charges of criminal cartel conduct have been laid against Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Limited (Citigroup), Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Deutsche Bank) and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ).
NSW Targets Threats or Violence on Grounds of Sexuality, Race, Religion
On 5 June 2018, the NSW Government introduced the Crimes Amendment (Publicly Threatening and Inciting Violence) Bill 2018 (NSW) ('the Bill'). The Bill proposes to create an offence of threatening or inciting violence on the grounds of race, sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV/AIDS status.
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