Latest publications in Australia

Enterprise update: Full Court dismisses JJ Richards appeal In J.J. Richards & Sons Pty Ltd and Australian Mines and Metals Association Inc. v Fair Work Australian and Transport Workers’ Union of Australia [2012] FCAFC 53 (20 April 2012), the Full Court of the Federal Court (Full Court) dismissed the appeal against the decision of a Full Bench of Fair Work Australia (FWA) that a union (on behalf of employees) can be ‘genuinely trying to reach agreement’ even where an employer refuses to bargain, without the need to obtain May 2012
Australian Convergence Review: Regulation of media and Internet content On 30 April 2012, the Final Report of the Australian Convergence Review Committee was handed down. The Review is one of the most ambitious and far reaching convergence reviews yet undertaken by any industrialised country in the world. May 2012
New tax on Australian mining projects The controversial Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) has now become law in Australia and will come into effect on 1 July 2012. The MRRT is a tax on profits made from extracting iron ore and coal in Australia, as well as gas extracted as a necessary incident of coal mining and gas produced by the in situ combustion of coal. May 2012
Conflicts over commodities – the coal seam gas balancing act Australian governments are responding to increased pressure to address land use conflicts through the introduction of new legislation and policy initiatives that seek to manage competing interests. The coal seam gas (CSG) industry illustrates the current challenges faced by government to balance the interests of agricultural landholders and other stakeholders, including petroleum and mining companies, seeking access to land , in the context of growing awareness and concern over environmental impacts, such as water. May 2012
Managing major projects: Climb aboard a DRB! The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation International Conference held in Sydney last Friday was the first international meeting of its kind to be held in Australia and signals the emergence of Dispute Resolution Boards (DRBs) as a mainstream and effective issue resolution mechanism for major projects in this country. 10 May 2012
Cartel conduct and the construction industry The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently written to 2,500 executives within the construction industry to remind them about the potential sanctions for cartel conduct. May 2012
Franchising Focus Welcome to the May 2012 edition of Franchising Focus. In this edition we discuss: eCommerce and Franchising; The National Business Name Registration Service – How will this impact your business?; Further changes to the FDI laws in India's retail sector; Federal law reform to head off State based legislation? May 2012
Managing change in the Victorian Public Sector – understanding the risks and getting it right! An important feature of the Budget 2012 -2013 Budget (the Budget) was the announcement by the Treasurer of significant savings as a result of further reductions in employee numbers in the Victorian Public Sector (VPS). 7 May 2012
Australian Government Budget 2012-13 Our analysis of some of the key highlights of the Gillard Government's 2012-13 Commonwealth Budget affecting our clients May 2012
The James Hardie Decisions: Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Hellicar & Ors [2012] HCA17; Shafron v Australian Securities & Investments Commission [2012] HCA 18 The full bench of the High Court of Australia yesterday overturned the NSW Court of Appeal Decisions in Morley v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (No 2) and Shafron v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (No2) 4 May 2012

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