Insurance
NAB sues insurers for coverage of $64M class action settlement
NAB has sued a group of insurers alleging they are liable to indemnify the bank for a $64.25 million settlement and associated defence costs in a superannuation class action against units MLC and NULIS Nominees.
Defamation
SA premier faces potential defamation suit by Palestinian author
Palestinian-Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah has sent a concerns notice to South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas over statements he made while defending the decision to remove her from the Adelaide Writers Week line-up.
Policy and Regulation
Government’s proposed new hate speech laws face opposition
The government’s plan to hastily pass new hate speech laws alongside gun control measures is facing diverse opposition from the Coalition, religious groups and civil liberties organisations.
Human Rights
Victoria attacks constitutional challenge to 6-month ‘designated area’ declaration
A constitutional challenge to the declaration of the Melbourne CBD as a ‘designated area’ has been attacked by the state government as “hypothetical”, but the case is set to move ahead despite an early end to the designation.
Employment
SBS did not unfairly ax worker over WFH requests, judge finds
A judge has rejected a former SBS employee’s case alleging she was unfairly dismissed due to her need to work from home for medical reasons, finding it was an "inherent requirement” of her role that she come into work.
Business of Law
Leading class action lawyer leaves Jones Day for Thomson Geer
One of the country's leading class action lawyers has left Jones Day for Thomson Geer, the third litigation partner to depart the US-based firm in recent months.
Business of Law
Silks get 43% pay bump for government work
The Attorney-General has raised the maximum pay rates for barristers doing government work for the first time in 14 years, but the rates still pale in comparison to what counsel can charge private clients.
Appeals
Full Court finds Marsh didn’t breach Harman obligation in Greensill case
Insurer Marsh has successfully appealed a finding that it breached its obligation not to use documents discovered in litigation over the $7 billion collapse of supply chain finance firm Greensill in separate proceedings.
Politics
Pauline Hanson, Brian Burston settle discrimination suit
Pauline Hanson and Brian Burston have quietly settled a lawsuit in which Hanson alleged that Burston subjected her to victimisation in breach of the Sex Discrimination Act after she publicly accused him of sexually harassing female staff.
Legal Ethics
Queensland solicitor reprimanded after being ‘duped’ by fake lawyer
A Queensland solicitor has been reprimanded for trust account irregularities after she was "duped" by the director of an incorporated legal practice who pretended to be a qualified lawyer.
