ACT Government Introduces Bill to Tackle Overpayment and Workplace Privacy Concerns

Monday 26 February 2018 @ 11.21 a.m. | Industrial Law | Legal Research

On 15 February 2018, the Workplace Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (ACT) (‘the Bill’) was introduced in the ACT Parliament. The Bill provides for employer deductions from an employee’s salary where an overpayment has occurred. The Bill also addresses workplace privacy concerns.

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ACCC Chairman Outlines 2018 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities, Reviews 2017

Monday 26 February 2018 @ 9.55 a.m. | Corporate & Regulatory | Trade & Commerce

On Tuesday (20 February 2018) the ACCC Chairman, Mr Rod Sims, outlined the "2018 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities" of the ACCC at his annual Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) address. In his address Mr Sims indicated that in 2018, the ACCC would focus on:

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Consultation Closes On Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting Regime Exposure Draft

Friday 23 February 2018 @ 11.12 a.m. | Corporate & Regulatory | Legal Research

The public consultation on the exposure draft of the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting) Bill 2018 (Cth) closes today, Friday 23 February 2018.  The Bill aims to implement the Turnbull Government’s proposal to implement a mandatory comprehensive credit reporting regime, allowing lenders to access to a greater amount of data and credit histories for individuals and small businesses.

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New Financial Transaction Reports Bill Introduced to WA Parliament

Friday 23 February 2018 @ 9.40 a.m. | Crime | Legal Research

On Tuesday 20 February 2018, WA Attorney General (the AG), the Hon John Quigley introduced the Financial Transaction Reports Amendment Bill 2018 (the Bill) to the WA Legislative Assembly, with the Bill proposed to make substantive amendments to the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1995 (WA) (the Act).

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Australian Government Consults on the Asian Region Funds Passport Bill Exposure Draft

Thursday 22 February 2018 @ 10.26 a.m. | Corporate & Regulatory | Legal Research | Trade & Commerce

The Treasury of the Australian Government this week (19 February 2018) opened submissions on the exposure draft of the Corporations Amendment (Asia Region Funds Passport) Bill 2017(Cth) (the Passport Bill). This consultation, due to close on 5 March 2018, is the third in a series of consultations which have been formulated to develop the legislative groundwork for the Asia Region Funds Passport (the Passport) in Australia.

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Black Economy Taskforce Legislation Introduced

Thursday 22 February 2018 @ 9.27 a.m. | Taxation | Trade & Commerce

On Wednesday (7 February 2018) the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Kelly O’Dwyer, introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Black Economy Taskforce Measures No. 1) Bill 2018 (Cth) (the Bill) into the House of Representatives. The Bill focuses on combating two areas of "black economy" practices, being the use of technology to hide income, and the understating or non-reporting of income by contractors in certain industries. The Bill represents part of the Federal Governments response to the Report of the Black Economy Task Force established to:

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Intelligence Services Amendment (Establishment of the Australian Signals Directorate) Bill 2018 Introduced

Wednesday 21 February 2018 @ 2.49 p.m. | Legal Research

Last week (15 February 2018), the Turnbull Government introduced the Intelligence Services Amendment (Establishment of the Australian Signals Directorate) Bill 2018 (Cth) into the House of Representatives. The Bill aims to establish the Australian Signals Directorate (“the ASD”) as an independent statutory agency, reporting directly to the Minister for Defence.

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Victorian Government Passes Bill Affirming Commitment to Victim's Rights in Criminal Proceedings

Wednesday 21 February 2018 @ 10.18 a.m. | Crime | Legal Research

Yesterday, 20 February 2018, the Victorian Legislative Council passed the Justice Legislation Amendment (Victims) Bill 2017. This Bill will now go to the Governor for assent. The object of this Bill is to amend a number of Acts including the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) and the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic), with the purpose of improving the way the criminal justice system addresses matters relating to victims of crime.

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Fair Work Ombudsman v Pulis Plumbing [2017] FCCA 3013: Business Fined for Underpaying Employee

Tuesday 20 February 2018 @ 10.29 a.m. | Industrial Law | Legal Research

In the case of Fair Work Ombudsman v Pulis Plumbing Pty Ltd [2017] FCCA 3013 (8 December 2017), the Federal Circuit Court (the Court) has penalised a business $100,000 and fined the business operator $21,500 for underpaying a worker thousands of dollars after incorrectly classifying his employment status.

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Biometric Capability Technology: Identity Matching Services Bill Introduced in QLD Parliament

Tuesday 20 February 2018 @ 10.18 a.m. | Crime | Legal Research

On 15 February 2018 the Police and Other Legislation (Identity and Biometric Capability) Amendment Bill 2018 (QLD) (‘the Bill’) was introduced in the Queensland Parliament. The Bill allows for the identification of people via their facial features through the use of biometric matching capabilities, and easier and direct sharing of this information across a central information hub.

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