The federal government has flagged reforms to Australia’s privacy laws in the wake of a cyberattack that left the data of up to 10 million current and former Optus customers exposed, including heftier penalties for companies that fail to safeguard users’ personal data.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced legislation to establish a federal anti-corruption commission by mid-2023, pledging $262 million over four years to the body, which will have broad and retrospective powers to investigate public corruption.
The Albanese government has introduced legislation that would require employers to proactively take steps to prevent sexual discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace.
The inquiry into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s appointment as shadow minister of five government portfolios is now seeking public submissions.
Western Australia is set to become the fifth state in Australia that allows lawyers to launch class actions, after a bill permitting representative proceedings advanced in the state parliament’s upper house.
A report commissioned by the Supreme Court of Victoria has recommended a massive overhaul to the system for awarding costs in civil proceedings, trashing the “opaque” and “inadequate” scale of costs system.
Fulfilling a pre-election promise, the Albanese government has announced a royal commission into the controversial Robodebt scheme initiated by the previous federal government, which raised more than $1.7 billion in illegitimate debts from Centrelink recipients.
The Albanese government will launch an inquiry into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments after releasing a report by the Solicitor General, which found the appointments legally valid but “inconsistent” with the practices of responsible government.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has defended his decision to appoint himself as shadow minister of significant government portfolios during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the times were extraordinary and the actions were taken as an emergency safeguard.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking legal advice over reports that predecessor Scott Morrison was secretly appointed to three ministry positions while in the top job.