Special

At some point during the two hours Justice Michael Lee held court on Monday, 45,000 viewers were tuned in to the livestream. What they witnessed as he pronounced judgment against Bruce Lehrmann was arguably the vindication of Network Ten and some measure of justice for Brittany Higgins, but not only that. What they saw was a judge at the top of his game.

Businesses that violate environment law could soon face fines of up to $780 million, under a plan that promises tougher enforcement through the creation of an Environment Protection Agency, alongside speedier environment approvals for projects.

A judge has found that former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in ex-defence minister Linda Reynolds’ ministerial office, saying he was “indifferent to her consent”, despite finding both witnesses had credit issues. 

Attacks at trial on the credibility of Bruce Lehrmann hit their target, but it’s still his case to lose on Monday morning, when judgment is delivered on his defamation claims against Ten. Throughout the case the network has borne the burden of proving Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation was true, and it is the very seriousness of that allegation that made the task harder.

A class action against the New South Wales government alleging it discriminated against Indigenous communities on the south coast for engaging in cultural fishing practices will include up to 15,000 people, a court has heard.

Investment and advisory firm Pollination Group has poached a leading climate lawyer who led MinterEllison’s global climate practice group to bolster its offering of cutting edge advice on the transition to net zero.

Competition law experts have raised doubts about changes to Australia’s merger review regime announced Wednesday, calling the reforms a mixed bag for businesses and the reduced role of the Federal Court “disappointing”.

Coal mining company Tigers Realm breached Russian sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine by transporting coal within Russia before exportation to the Asian market, a judge has found. 

Workplace health and safety lawyer Jane Hall is the newest addition to Holding Redlich, boosting the firm’s regulatory expertise.

Leading lawyers have welcomed a new practice note in the Commercial Court division of the Victorian Supreme Court, including a “rigid framework” to cut down on interlocutory disputation which is expected to benefit commercial class action litigants, but some say the note “should have gone further” to compel discovery from defendants.