1271-1280 of 2939 results
Disclosure of climate-related financial risk: major change is imminent
There has been a global proliferation of voluntary reporting standards that companies might adopt with respect to disclosure of climate change-related financial risk. ...
Consumer laws - 'green' marketing
Consumers and investors are increasingly conscious of climate change risks, and more demanding of businesses to adopt sustainable business practices. This has led to an increase in 'green marketing', which includes statements about environmental sustainability, carbon neutrality, recycling or impact ...
Energy efficiency schemes – retailer risk vs business and household opportunities
A number of states and territories have established schemes that provide electricity users with incentives to implement energy saving measures and which require electricity retailers to achieve energy saving targets. ...
Voluntary schemes and soft law
The term 'soft law' refers to rules, principles or guidelines that are not themselves legally binding, but nonetheless play an important role in promoting compliance with certain standards of behaviour. Rules of 'soft law' can often act as a precursor to the emergence of 'hard law'. ...
The big picture: Australia's commitments under the Paris Agreement
In December 2015, the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the UNFCCC) adopted a landmark agreement to combat climate change and to take steps to shift their economies towards a sustainable, low carbon future (the Paris Agreement). ...
Arbitration agreements – don’t play chicken with imprecise drafting
The decision in Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Hannigan [2020] NSWCA 82 found that a dispute was improperly referred to arbitration because the claim for unliquidated damages was not a dispute that fell within the scope of the arbitration agreement. This decision highlights the importance of precise drafting for all dispute resolution clauses. ...
State of trade: COVID-19's impacts on trade regulation and supply chain risks
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of international commerce, and will continue do so for some time. In this Insight, we discuss three critical trade-related impacts of the pandemic on Australian businesses. ...
What courts and regulators expect from corporate compliance
The recent decision of ACCC v Bupa Aged Care contains valuable lessons on the importance of compliance programs. They include how quickly improving or implementing such programs can lead to lower penalties; the extent to which regulators and courts favourably view effective compliance programs when assessing penalties, and what features they consider to be essential. ...
Rokt unsuccessful in the Full Court
The Full Court in Rokt Pte Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2018] FCA 1988 reversed the decision of the trial judge, finding for the Commissioner of Patents that Rokt's digital advertising systems and methods invention does not constitute patentable subject matter. The decision further clarifies the patentability of computer-implemented inventions at Australian law. ...
Buyers and sellers beware! Expenditure deductions denied and gains taxed as income
Recent decisions handed down by both the High Court and Federal Court in relation to the 'income/capital distinction' and 'blackhole expenditure' have produced a mix of predictable and unexpected, but generally unfavourable, outcomes for taxpayers. Most buyers have been denied deductions for the pur ...