Employment
ABC hit with $150K penalty for Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal
A judge has ordered the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to pay $150,000 for unfairly dismissing presenter Antoinette Lattouf because of her opposition to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Competition & Consumer Protection
Optus hit with $100M penalty over ‘appalling’ sales tactics
A judge has ordered embattled Optus to pay a $100 million penalty for “extremely serious” and “appalling” contraventions, after the telco admitted that staff pressured customers into buying phones they could not afford.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Glencore appeals wharfage fee dispute with Port of Newcastle
Glencore wants a second chance to argue its case against Port of Newcastle over wharfage fees, which it claims were excessive in light of a determination by the competition watchdog.
Employment
Super Retail Group settles whistleblowers’ bullying cases
Rebel Sport owner Super Retail Group has reached a settlement in a lawsuit by two former employees, just days after the retailer sacked its CEO.
Intellectual Property
Finish maker can’t trademark dishwasher tablet shape
Finish maker Reckitt Benckiser has lost its bid to trademark the shape of its dishwashing capsule, with a delegate finding it was not a “wholly concocted” shape that can be distinguished from similar products by other brands.
ASIC
Court calls ASIC out for ‘kitchen sink’ approach to pleadings in Mawhinney case
A judge has taken ASIC to task for pleading its remitter case against Mayfair 101 Group director James Mawhinney in minute detail, but has rejected arguments the regulator ran the proceeding in an “oppressive and unmeritorious” way.
Insurance
ASIC takes RACQ to court alleging false comparison pricing
The corporate regulator has filed proceedings against RACQ, one of Queensland’s largest insurers, alleging it sent customers renewal documents with misleading comparison pricing.
Competition & Consumer Protection
ACCC sues JustAnswer over ‘manipulative’ subscription trap
Advice platform JustAnswer is accused of duping customers into signing up for expensive monthly subscriptions by advertising a $2 joining fee, and falsely holding itself out as affiliated with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Defamation
Rebel Wilson hit with fresh defamation suit over Instagram posts
Actor and director Rebel Wilson faces a second defamation suit over social media comments connected to her movie 'The Deb'.
Contracts
Opal sues Victoria for $402M in damages over paper mill agreement
Paper company Opal has sued the Victorian government for $402 million in damages, claiming it was forced to close the Maryvale paper mill after the state government breached an agreement to provide it with a stable supply of wood.
