Special

The workplace regulator should start a national probe into sexual harassment and the treatment of young workers in the construction industry, according to a forum convened by the employment minister.

The Albanese government will ban non-compete clauses in employment contracts for workers earning salaries under the high-income threshold, saying the clauses were dragging down wages.

Renewable energy developer Equis has begun construction of a two battery energy storage system in Tamworth, NSW after securing $260 million in financing.

A recent High Court decision which found the federal government must compensate Indigenous people in the Northern Territory over past mining operations has significant implications for the government’s liability to pay up for historical acts affecting native title, but experts say the decision is unlikely to unleash a torrent of similar claims.

Grant Jones has been appointed general counsel at insurer AIA Australia after nearly a decade at competitor MLC Life.

A judge recently made the rare decision to declass a representative case, and experts say we may see more of the difficult applications as class actions move into areas with greater variation in the circumstances of group members. 

The federal government has awarded Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners $814 million for a green hydrogen project in Western Australia, as another green hydrogen project in Queensland faces an uncertain future after the state yanked funding.

A real estate expert and probity specialist have joined Maddocks Canberra-based government practice as special counsel.

Crown has dropped its claims against builder Lendlease over the use of combustible cladding on the façade of the Metropol in Southbank but is continuing to pursue its case against the architect and others.

The Australian Information Commissioner has found 16 government agencies have approved the use of messaging apps like Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp for government business.