Policy and Regulation

The inquiry into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s appointment as shadow minister of five government portfolios is now seeking public submissions.

Western Australia is set to become the fifth state in Australia that allows lawyers to launch class actions, after a bill permitting representative proceedings advanced in the state parliament’s upper house.

A report commissioned by the Supreme Court of Victoria has recommended a massive overhaul to the system for awarding costs in civil proceedings, trashing the “opaque” and “inadequate” scale of costs system.

Fulfilling a pre-election promise, the Albanese government has announced a royal commission into the controversial Robodebt scheme initiated by the previous federal government, which raised more than $1.7 billion in illegitimate debts from Centrelink recipients.

The Albanese government will launch an inquiry into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments after releasing a report by the Solicitor General, which found the appointments legally valid but “inconsistent” with the practices of responsible government.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has defended his decision to appoint himself as shadow minister of significant government portfolios during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the times were extraordinary and the actions were taken as an emergency safeguard.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking legal advice over reports that predecessor Scott Morrison was secretly appointed to three ministry positions while in the top job.

A lawyer has had his name struck off the roll for misconduct that “represented a gross departure from proper professional standards,” including making false claims for Legal Aid disbursements.

A government-approved plan to build a waste facility in western Tasmania has been parked,  after environmental campaigners won a judgment declaring the federal government’s approval of the proposed tailings storage facility was invalid.

A judge has dismissed a proceeding against the New South Wales government over a mandate requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the applicant’s constitutional case was “legally misconceived and must be rejected.”