Parliamentary Inquiry Releases Report Into Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism
A Parliamentary Inquiry into Australian and international organ trafficking released its final report on 3 December 2018. The final report, written by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (‘the Sub-Committee’), titled Compassion, Not Commerce: An inquiry into human organ trafficking and organ transplant tourism (‘the Report’) makes twelve recommendations as to how the Australian government can combat this practice. The Report examines the prevalence of organ trafficking both internationally and within Australia and discusses Australia’s current involvement in international efforts to stop this trade.
Tasmanian Family Violence Reforms Bill Receives Assent
The Family Violence Reforms Bill 2018 (Tas) (the “Bill”) was introduced to Tasmania Parliament’s House of Assembly on 25 September 2018, by the Hon Elise Archer MP. It received Royal Assent on 10 December 2018 and was enacted as the Family Violence Reforms Act 2018 (Act 26 of 2018), with Act also taking commencing on the date of its assent.
ACCC Digital Platform Inquiry: Preliminary Report Released
On Monday (10 December 2018) the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the ACCC) published its Digital Platform Inquiry: Preliminary Report (the Preliminary Report) which sets out 11 preliminary recommendations and eight areas to be further analysed as its inquiry continues.
Ad Valorem Duty: Appropriate Company Valuation [2018] HCA 59
In the Commissioner of State Revenue v Placer Dome Inc (now an amalgamated entity named Barrick Gold Corporation) [2018] HCA 59, the High Court of Australia unanimously upheld the Commissioner of State Revenue’s (‘the Commissioner’) assessment that the Barrick Gold Corporation (‘Barrick’) was liable to pay the ad valorem duty arising from its acquisition of Placer Dome Inc (‘Placer’).
Tasmanian Electricity Supply Bill Receives Assent
After having been introduced to Tasmania Parliament’s House of Assembly on 22 May 2018 by the Hon Peter Gutwein MP, the Electricity Supply Industry Amendment (Price Cap) Bill 2018 (Tas) passed Tasmania’s Legislative Council on 1 November 2018 and was enacted as the Electricity Supply Industry Amendment (Price Cap) Act 2018 (Act 24 of 2018) on 16 November 2018, commencing on the same day.
The Republic of Nauru v WET040 [No 2] [2018] HCA 60: High Court Allows Appeal
On 5 December 2018, the High Court of Australia (“High Court”) unanimously allowed an appeal from a decision of the Supreme Court of Nauru, holding that the Refugee Status Review Tribunal ("Tribunal") had not erred in dismissing the respondent's application to be recognised as a refugee or as person owed complementary protection by the Republic of Nauru under the Refugees Convention Act 2012 (Nr).
WA Amends Laws to Further Enhance Electronic Operation of Land Titles Register
The Transfer of Land Amendment Bill 2018 (the Bill) was introduced into the Western Australian (WA) Parliament on 21 November 2018 by the Minister for Planning, Ms R. Saffioti.
ACCC Announces Court Action Over Alleged Misleading Conduct from TPG
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) has announced in a Media Release that they have commenced proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against TPG Internet Pty Ltd (“TPG”) , alleging that TPG have been "engaging in misleading conduct concerning a $20 “prepayment” made by consumers, and including unfair prepayment contract terms in some of their ADSL2+ and NBN plans."
NSW Introduces Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Firefighters) Act 2018
The Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Firefighters) Act 2018 (NSW) (‘the Act’) was passed by both houses of the NSW Parliament on 22 November 2018 and was assented on November 28 as Act 93 of 2018. The Act amends certain legislation to establish presumptive rights to workers compensation for firefighters in certain situations.
Draft IP Regulations Released As Part Of Response To The Productivity Commission Inquiry
Following the release of the exposure draft of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 2 and Other Measures) Bill 2018 (CTH) (‘the Bill’), IP Australia has released the exposure draft of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 2 and Other Measures) Regulations 2018 (CTH) (‘the Regulations’) for public comment.
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