In November 2010 two Commissions, the Australian Legal Reform Committee (ALRC) and the NSW Law Reform Commission, completed their first inquiry into family violence with the release of a report, Family Violence: A National Legal Response (ALRC Report 114, 2010) containing 187 recommendations for reform. This report was a product of the year-long joint inquiry...
Category: <span>General</span>
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Establishment of New Queensland Reconstruction Authority
A new authority has been set up by the State Government armed with the task of rebuilding and getting Queensland back on its feet after more than three quarters of the State was affected by floods and cyclone damage. With legislated powers, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority will coordinate the mammoth task of rebuild and recovery....
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Wikileaker Could Face Death Penalty
A United States Army Private could be facing the death penalty after leaking documents to Wikileaks. The whistle-blowing website publishes submissions of secret and classified media from anonymous news sources. Private Bradley Manning has now been charged with an additional 22 counts, including the capital offence of “aiding the enemy”. Among Private Bradley Manning’s offences...
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Decision Finally Made on Water Rebates
In the continuing saga over water rates, the Queensland Government has declared that the Gold Coast City Council can easily fund water rebates to households. AllConnex Water, the council-owned water distributor, stands to profit $94 million this year alone. Mayor Ron Clarke announced that a $50 rebate will be provided to Gold Coast home owners...
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Law Firms Make Their Mark in Green Business Era
The business of “going green” has numerous benefits for law firms beyond reducing its environmental footprint. Growing awareness amongst the Australian legal sector to create a sustainable future has law firms across the country improving their energy practices and focusing on clean and renewable resources. But jumping on the sustainability bandwagon is not just an...
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New Consumer Laws Apply From Jan 1
On 1 January 2011, a single, national consumer protection and fair-trading law commenced across Australia. The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 replaces the Trade Practices Act 1974 and large sections of Queensland’s Fair Trading Act 1989. The new legislation aims to give businesses a fair and competitive operating environment. The Act creates the Australian Consumer...
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Queensland Surrogacy Laws Most Liberal in Australia
Surrogacy laws have been repealed after a heated debate in State Parliament. After almost 20 hours of bitter, divisive and emotional debate, with parties accusing each other of “social engineering”, the laws were passed in State Parliament on 11 February 2010. The new Surrogacy Act 2010 takes Queensland laws from the most conservative – it...
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CSR Decision’s Impact on Asbestos Victims
CSR was given a green light to proceed with the demerger of its sugar business on 23 April in a successful full bench appeal of a February decision that had refused the demerger. The Court of Appeal allowed CSR to present the demerger proposal to its shareholders. The shareholders’ decision then must still go before...
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Protection for Whistleblowers in Queensland
The Queensland Ombudsman, together with the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Public Service Commission, has produced a brochure which explains the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994 (Qld). The Act was introduced to provide protection for those who speak out about any wrongdoing in the public sector, commonly known as ‘blowing the whistle’. This whistleblowing is...
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Can I Adopt?
Adoption is an important issue for the people in our society desperate, but unable, to become parents, but to many the adoption process remains clouded in mystery. Recently, the State Government passed the long-anticipated Adoption Act 2009. This new Act repeals the Adoption of Children Act 1964, and brings Queensland into line with other Australian...
