Insurance
IAG to fight regulator’s rejection of $1.3B RACWA merger
The ACCC has opposed IAG’s proposed $1.35 billion acquisition of RACWA's insurance operations, saying the deal would substantially lessen competition for motor vehicle and home and contents insurance in Western Australia.
Class Actions
Class action targets government’s ‘unlawful’ surcharges for card payments
Fresh of a record settlement for the Robodebt scandal, the government is facing a new class action over a law that retroactively allowed it to impose surcharges for card payments, which the suit says amounts to unjust enrichment.
Class Actions
Judge won’t hold up Google class action waiting for competing case
The judge overseeing a jointly run class action against Google, which has already fended off a third proceeding in a contest to pursue the digital giant, will not keep the case waiting for a looming fourth action.
Social Media
Reddit brings High Court challenge over social media ban
In its writ to the High Court on Friday, Reddit says Australia's social media ban for children under 16 years old “directly burdens” the country's implied freedom of political communication.
Class Actions
IMARC activist awarded damages in pepper spray class action
The lead applicant in a class action challenging Victoria Police's use of capsicum spray during a protest over the International Mining and Resources Conference in 2019 has been awarded $54,000 in damages.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
OAIC won’t probe class action-style complaint over Optus data breach
The privacy watchdog has given a preliminary view that it won't investigate a class action-style complaint brought by Maurice Blackburn over a 2022 Optus data breach, citing its own proceedings, a court has heard.
Construction
ADCO scores win in row with Boroondara over Kew building collapse
ADCO Constructions did not agree to guarantee work done by its subsidiary on the Kew Recreation Centre, a court has found, limiting Boroondara City Council’s options following a roof collapse.
Class Actions
AMP to pay $29M to settle another royal commission class action
AMP has agreed to pay $29 million to settle a class action alleging insurance customers were overcharged, putting to rest another case stemming from "serious misconduct" that came to light curing the 2018 banking royal commission.
Public Corruption
Court rejects Walter Sofronoff’s challenge to corrupt conduct finding
The Federal Court has dismissed Walter Sofronoff KC’s legal challenge to the ACT Integrity Commission findings that he engaged in corrupt conduct in his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann.
Financial Services
ACCC battles Mastercard, major companies over suppression bids
The competition regulator has cited the public interest in its misuse of market power case against Mastercard in fighting suppression applications by the credit card giant and its heavy-hitter customers, including Coles and Visa.
