The Commonwealth has recently made regulation to implement Australias commitments under its free trade agreements with Japan Korea and Chile which will ease certain foreign investment review and life insurance business regulations for investors from those countries Japan Sector Leader and Partner ...

The Victorian Government has released new guidelines that provide the framework for how it will assess unsolicited proposals from the private sector, but the key issues remain the same: timing, uniqueness, value for money, and confidentiality/intellectual property protection. ...

The Federal Government has released its package of reforms to Australia's personal and corporate insolvency laws which Includes a draft Bill that proposes to streamline the regulatory framework applying to insolvency practitioners ...

The NSW Governments proposed reforms to strata title laws may impose greater obligations and costs on developers that could be passed on to buyers adding pressure to property prices The NSW Governments view however is that these impacts will be offset by a reduction in disputes Partner Nicholas ...

The Queensland Government has introduced amending legislation that will result in new flexibility new obligations and higher penalties in relation to environmental regulation in Queensland Partner Bill McCredie and Senior Associate Gobind Kalsi report ...

The Financial System Inquirys interim report has identified the retirement phase of superannuation as a priority issue that requires change If the Federal Government decides to implement various policy options to encourage the development of more suitable products it could result in significant ...

In its submission to the Financial System Inquiry the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has proposed the addition of a statutory objective to enable ASIC to consider the impact of its decision making on competition when exercising its statutory powers and functions This paper explores ...

New legislation that deals with property transactions in Queensland will have major implications on the sale process of residential property and the licensing of agents Partner Alister Fitzgerald and Senior Associate Annabelle Aland report on the main changes ...

The Queensland Government has released a plan to encourage the viability of the emerging unconventional deep gas and oil industry Partner Igor Bogdanich Managing Associate John Hedge and Lawyer Ellie Mulholland analyse the recommended changes to Queenslands onshore petroleum regulatory framework ...

Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand has released its final report on the review of the Australian Consumer Law ACL recommending a range of reforms to strengthen protections for consumers and businesses We look at the proposed reforms and the implications for your business if they are accepted ...