Investigation

US consumer goods giant 3M is facing a possible class action on behalf of members of the Australian Defence Force who allegedly suffered hearing loss from defective combat earplugs.

An investigation has been launched into a possible class action that would seek “housing justice” for Aboriginal tenants living in substandard public housing in Western Australia, following a landmark ruling by the High Court.

Two units of insurer IAG are facing possible class actions that mirror claims in proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission last week that accuse the insurer of misleading home owners insurance customers about loyalty discounts.

The ACCC has raised concerns about Coles plans to acquire milk processing plants from Saputo, with the regulator saying the transaction -- marking the first time a supermarket chain has ventured into the processing market -- would be a “major structural change”.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has raised Medibank's capital adequacy requirement by $250 million, following last year's cyber attack against the private health insurer, which exposed the personal details of 10 million customers. 

Casino operator Crown Resorts has agreed to backpay employees more than $1.2 million, after the company notified the Fair Work Ombudsman that it had underpaid workers at its Melbourne and Perth locations for almost six years. 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia has copped a record $3.55 million penalty for breaching spam laws after it sent more than 65 million emails without an easy way for individuals to unsubscribe.

Online home improvement platform Hipages has admitted that it likely engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct by failing to disclose contract terms that allowed it to automatically renew subscriptions and charge early termination fees.

PricewaterhouseCoopers will put nine partners on leave and ringfence its government work in the wake of a tax policy leak scandal for which the embattled firm’s acting chief has issued an apology.

CSIRO has won its bid to access samples of a wheat grain product with increased fibre, as it contemplates a possible patent infringement lawsuit against a South Australian food company.