Policy and Regulation

Representatives from Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap will front a Senate hearing this week over whether they should face penalties of up to $99 million for failing to comply with new rules barring children under 16 from accessing their platforms.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskus has announced the government will conduct a royal commission into artificial intelligence, just days after signing a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI.

The government is mulling stronger privacy laws to deal with emerging technologies like smart glasses, with the OAIC saying it was giving "serious consideration" to the privacy issues raised by the glasses, most of which are made by Meta.

The ACCC will examine regional mobile coverage across Australia and whether regulating wholesale access to some mobile services would improve customer outcomes, as part of a new inquiry.

Clive Palmer has lost another legal battle over Western Australian legislation shielding the state from the fallout of a decision barring a proposed Pilbara iron ore project, with a Swiss court rejecting his challenge to a tribunal's finding that it had no jurisdiction to hear the $300 billion dispute.

Energy minister Chris Bowen has warned the federal government will legislate if necessary to prevent states from competing for data centres, after announcing plans last month to roll out a national AI framework to govern the booming area.

ASIC has found that customers have not been receiving the promised benefits of mortgage offset accounts and have been unknowingly paying more interest than they should have, with banks already paying out $55 million in compensation.

Three-storey housing should be allowed in most suburbs, the Productivity Commission has recommended in a report that finds existing housing regulations have stymied new developments.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has revealed plans for a new federal court specialising in workplace disputes, saying the current system is too slow and expensive.

The Allan Government has unveiled plans that would make it easier to sue AI and social media companies over harms to children, while also announcing a crackdown on the use of AI and employee surveillance in the workplace.