Competition & Consumer Protection
Coles challenges ACCC’s block of supermarket site acquisition
Copyright Lawyerly Media 2026. Unauthorised reproduction, distribution or sharing of this article is prohibited. Contact us for a reprint licence. Coles has asked the Australian Competition Tribunal to allow its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest in a supermarket and liquor store site in Kalgoorlie to go ahead, arguing the ACCC’s finding that it would substantially…
Intellectual Property
‘Trap’ calls in IP disputes should not be made by lawyers, judge says
So-called trap calls to suspected intellectual property violators should not be made by solicitors, a judge has said, referring to two phone calls by a lawyer acting for a Queensland pool company in a trade mark dispute.
Policy and Regulation
New criminal offence for modern slavery failures by big companies
A new criminal offence against companies that fail to address modern slavery by suppliers is on the table as part of reforms by the Albanese government to strengthen forced labour laws.
Financial Services
Judge OKs ‘very disappointing’ AMP class action settlement, cuts fees
A judge has approved a $120 million settlement in a class action against AMP that followed the banking royal commission, saying while it was a “very disappointing outcome” for group members it was still fair and reasonable.
Class Actions
ALDI settles underpayments class action for $55M
A class action on behalf of 32,000 ALDI workers who were allegedly denied pay for pre- and post-shift work has settled for $55 million, with the retail workers union set to receive $1.5 million towards its costs.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
Privacy watchdog clears Qantas in data breach inquiry
The Office of the Australian Information Commission will not take action against Qantas over a 2025 data breach that affected more than five million customers.
Tax
PwC negligence case over tax advice on $100M estate to be revised
The executor of a $100 million estate is amending its case against PricewaterhouseCoopers that alleges the firm gave negligent advice and acted with a conflict of interest while advising on tax liabilities.
Fintech
Fintech Bano to be kicked off Banking Circle platform due to AML/CTF risk
A judge has refused to force alternative banking provider Banking Circle Australia to continue providing services to fintech Bano, finding it faced a real risk of breaching anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing laws if the relationship continued.
Tax
After nine years on ice, Obeids press on with cases against ATO
Twelve cases brought by Labor politician Eddie Obeid and his family against the tax office are back on track after they were stayed in 2017 pending the outcome of a criminal prosecution against Obeid and his son Moses.
Analysis
Class action settlements off to a slow start in 2026 after record $1.6B year
Class action settlements are off to a sluggish start in 2026, with only two mega-settlements of $100 million or more reached and the country's leading plaintiff law firm yet to get on the board.
