Trials

Gas giant Woodside has hit back at claims by activist groups that the federal environment minister's department "negotiated" with the company ahead of approving a 40-year extension to its North West Shelf project.

Activist group Friends of Australian Rock Art have alleged environment and water minister Murray Watt "cherry picked" potential economic and social benefits of Woodside's North West Shelf project while ignoring the harms.

Communications between the environment minister's department and Woodside over the gas company's controversial North West Shelf project raised concerns about the apprehension of bias, activist group Australian Conservation Foundation has told a trial judge.

A judge has found the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra did not discriminate against pianist Jayson Gillham on the basis of political belief by cancelling a concert after he made comments that were critical of Israel's conduct in Gaza.

Three Keybridge Capital directors have rejected claims that board minutes documenting a $4.75 million bonus to former CEO Nicholas Bolton were a post-hoc "concoction”, saying they accurately reflected an agreement reached during a nine-minute meeting in 2023.

Counsel representing a class action on behalf of thousands of Aussie Home Loan customers has told a trial judge brokers "planted seeds" to convince customers they needed to take out worthless mortgage protection insurance.

Law firm Allen & Overy advised that there were “very serious problems” with awarding Keybridge’s former CEO Nicholas Bolton a $4.75 million bonus, a judge has heard.

Former Keybridge CEO Nicholas Bolton has faced questions about a $4.75 million bonus he was paid on a $17.8 million deal with fund manager Magellan, on the second day of trial in proceedings by WAM over two transactions its alleges were oppressive to shareholders.

Kicking off its case against former Noumi CEO Rory Macleod, ASIC has told the court that Macleod was clearly aware of the "dramatic" difference between actual available stock and what was reported to the market in 2019 and 2020.

Mail order company Magnamail has denied allegations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that it sent false or misleading promotional material implying customers were eligible for major prizes if they ordered from its catalogues.