Express law

Please note that our Express law publications may not follow sequential order due to the archiving of superseded versions.

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​Da​te Details​​
Issue​
May 2025 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v SunshineLoans Pty Ltd [2025] FCAFC 32 328
April 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) model clauses 327
December 2024 Bird v DP (a pseudonym) [2024] HCA 41 326
September 2024 First tranche of privacy reforms tabled in Parliament 325
August 2024 Electoral Commissioner of the Australian Electoral Commission v Laming [2024] FCAFC 109 324
July 2024 Key changes – Commonwealth Procurement Rules 2024 323
June 2024 Key changes – Lands Acquisition Delegation 2024 322
May 2024 Prosecution of Commonwealth bodies: High Court holds Director of National Parks can be liable for a Northern Territory offence 321
December 2023 Permanent stays: High Court explains standard of appellate review and the relevance of loss of evidence in historical child abuse claims 320
December 2023 High Court finds in favour of broad extraterritorial operation of unfair contract terms regime in the Australian Consumer Law 319
September 2023 High Court rejects application of parliamentary privilege to a report prepared by a statutory agency for its supervisory parliamentary committee 318
September 2023 Higher penalties possible for corporate offending 317
August 2023 Public Interest Disclosure Act is subject to Parliamentary Privileges Act 316
​June 2023 Reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism commencing 1 July 2023 315
​June 2023 Guidance on briefing expert witnesses – the recent decision in New Aim v Leung 314
​February 2023 Privacy Act Review Report released 313
​January 2023 Increase to the Public Works Committee medium works threshold 312
​December 2022 Repeal of the Building Code 2016 311
​November 2022 Amendments to Privacy Act to increase penalties for privacy breaches, enhance powers of OAIC 310
​October 2022 APSC publishes Public Sector Interim Workplace Arrangements 2022 (Interim Arrangements) 309
​August 2022 Updates to the Building Code 2016 308
​April 2022 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Pattinson [2022] HCA 13 307
​April 2022 Australia’s autonomous sanctions regime 306
​February 2022 Federal Court rejects Facebook appeal, finds that Privacy Act may apply to companies with no physical presence in Australia 305
​December 2021 Tribunal decision finds ‘as required by law’ clause in contract does not displace operation of breach of confidence exemption in FOI Act 304
​December 2021 Federal Court confirms that Harman obligation does not constrain the use of subpoenaed documents in the exercise of statutory powers and duties 303
​December 2021 Fair Work Commission Full Bench finds vaccine mandate policy unreasonable due to failure to effectively consult 302
​November 2021 Land Acquisition Framework published by Department of Finance 301
​September 2021 The Voller High Court defamation decision – some implications 299
​August 2021 WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2021] HCA 23 297
​May 2021 ACCC v Telstra [2021] FCA 502 296
​March 2021 ACCC v Quantum Housing Group Pty Ltd [2021] FCAFC 40 295
​February 2021 CUB Australia Holding v Commissioner of Taxation [2021] FCA 43 294
​December 2020 Data Availability and Transparency Bill 2020 293
​December 2020 Foreign investment reforms: passing of Act introduces new national security test 292
​November 2020 Chief Executive Officer, Services Australia and Justin Warren [2020] AATA 4557 291
​August 2020 Plaintiff M83A/2019 v Morrison (No 2) [2020] FCA 1198 290
​August 2020 Mondelez v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union Known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU); Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations v AMWU [2020] HCA 29 289
​May 2020 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia & Ors v Qantas Airways Limited [2020] FCA 656 288
​April 2020 Commonwealth of Australia v Helicopter Resources Pty Ltd [2020] HCA 16 287
​April 2020 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Kinghorn; Kinghorn v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 48 286
​February 2020 Aboriginal Australians are not within the reach of the ‘aliens’ power conferred by s 51(xix) of the Constitution: Love v Commonwealth; Thoms v Commonwealth [2020] HCA 285
​January 2020 ASIC v Helou [2019] FCA 1634 284
​November 2019 HT v R [2019] HCA 40: High Court finds 'secret' evidence a step too far 283
​November 2019 Western Union Business Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd v Robinson [2019] FCAFC 181 282
​October 2019 'Proportionality' in civil penalty cases – important developments 281
​August 2019 High Court confirms legal professional privilege a 'shield' not a 'sword' 280
​August 2019 Comcare v Banerji [2019] HCA 23 279
​June 2019 Commonwealth of Australia not liable for economic loss arising from its administration of the Home Insulation Program  278
​May 2019 Keyzer v La Trobe University [2019] FCA 646 277
​December 2018 Federal Court holds dismissal of an ill employee breached the Fair Work Act 2009 275
​November 2018 AIT18 v Australian Information Commissioner [2018] FCAFC 192 274
​October 2018 The Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 (Cth) 273
​October 2018 John Nemcic v Australian Electoral Commission [2018] FWC 5645 272
​September 2018 Update: special leave refused in relation to penalty privilege 271
​May 2018 High Court confirms that State tribunals cannot exercise judicial power in federal matters 270
​April 2018 Full Federal Court finds the Harman obligation does not constrain statutory power 268
​March 2018 Tribunal rules on FOI access to text messages 267
​February 2018 Penalty privilege is not available in a federal administrative context unless it is applied by statute: apparent tension in High Court authority resolved 265
​February 2018 High Court finds Federal Court has power to make a personal payment order against a contravening union official under the Fair Work Act 2009 264
​January 2018 Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises – Governance and Oversight Guidelines 263
​September 2017 Full Federal Court clarifies when a psychological condition is an 'injury' or 'disease' under the SRC Act and how decisions ceasing entitlement to workers compensation can be approached 261
​June 2017 Whitebox proceeding has potential significance for Commonwealth civil regulators 259
​June 2017 The High Court considers 'market' for the purposes of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and when it is 'in Australia' 258
​May 2017 A current issue arising in ASIC v Whitebox (NSD383 of 2016) (Whitebox), with potential significance for other civil regulatory proceedings, has now been listed for separate hearing before the Full Court of the Federal Court on 8 June 2017 256
​May 2017 The Full Court of the Federal Court clarifies the causal connection between 'administrative action' and a disease that is necessary to potentially exclude liability under the SRC Act 255
​January 2017 Full Federal Court hands down decision on definition of 'personal information' 253
​November 2016 The High Court clarifies the causal connection between 'administrative action' and a disease that is necessary to potentially exclude liability under the SRC Act 251
​October 2016 Administrative Appeals Tribunal awards $8,000 in compensation for interference with privacy 250
​May 2016 Release from the 'implied undertaking' for the purpose of a criminal investigation 247
​March 2016 Full Federal Court confirms 'legal unreasonableness' principles 245
​March 2016 Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Act 2015 to commence on 5 March 244
​December 2015 Tribunal rules on disclosure of incoming government brief 243
​December 2015 High Court finds that Barbaro does not apply to civil penalty proceedings 241
​September 2015 First decision on who is an 'officer' under the model work health and safety legislation 238
​August 2015 Full Federal Court clarifies nature and scope of appeals on a 'question of law' 237
​July 2015 High Court upholds power to order a corporation facing contempt proceedings to discover documents that may tend to implicate it in the contempt alleged 236
​June 2015 High Court rules on apprehended bias 235
​May 2015 Privacy determination – need to scrutinise law enforcement requests before disclosing personal information 234
​May 2015 Metadata is 'personal information' under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) 232
​May 2015 Parliament passes the Tribunals Amalgamation Bill 2015 231
​March 2015 High Court rules on 'Royal prank phone call' case 230
​December 2014 Emissions Reduction Fund ready to commence 227
​September 2014 Recent decision indicates likely compensation range for breach of privacy 225
​September 2014 Serious invasions of privacy in the digital era: ALRC tables final report 224
​September 2014 Implied terms of mutual trust and confidence and good faith in employment contracts: what do they mean for Commonwealth agencies? 223
​August 2014 Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd v Marmara 221
​July 2014 First decision on termination of employment for 'loss of an essential qualification' – Defence defends requirement to maintain a security clearance 220
​June 2014 High Court upholds validity of designation of Papua New Guinea as regional processing country 219
​June 2014 Bills to facilitate 1 July 2014 commencement of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability legislative framework pass through Parliament 218
​June 2014 High Court holds legislation authorising expenditure for the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program to be invalid 217
​May 2014 High Court upholds the validity of 'Henry VIII' regulation affecting an accrued right to compensation 216
​May 2014 Submissions on penalty post Barbaro – update for civil regulators 215
​April 2014 Criminal property forfeiture scheme valid – no acquisition of property on unjust terms 214
​April 2014 High Court decision clarifies the test for extinguishment of native title 213
​April 2014 Fair Work Commission decisions provide insight on validity of 'no extra claims' clauses in enterprise agreements and notices of employment representation rights 212
​April 2014 High Court clarifies the circumstances in which words may be read into a statute 211
​March 2014 Recent decision revisits approach to release of vocational assessment information of successful job applicant 210
​March 2014 Submissions on penalty ranges – High Court's view and implications for civil regulators  209
​December 2013 The High Court declares invalid NSW laws restricting political donations and electoral expenditure 207
​December 2013 New anti-bullying measures to commence on 1 January 2014 206
​December 2013 Bill introduces major reform of national energy regulatory system 205
​November 2013 Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 commences on 15 January 2014 204
​November 2013 New Federal Court guide to the Individual Docket System 202
​November 2013 High Court guidance on documents produced by mistake 201
​November 2013 High Court discusses principles relating to a duty to give reasons and certiorari 200
​November 2013 High Court refines notion of injury suffered 'in the course of employment' 199
​August 2013 The High Court holds that a native title right that allows fishing for commercial purposes is not extinguished by State and Commonwealth legislation prohibiting commercial fishing without a licence 198
​August 2013 High Court upholds constitutional validity of the mining tax 197
​July 2013 Election 2013: caretaker conventions 195
​July 2013 Sex Discrimination Act amended to cover sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status and relationship status 193
​June 2013 New anti-bullying measures and other amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 192
​June 2013 Bill introduces new governance, performance and accountability framework for Commonwealth bodies 191
​May 2013 Launch of Opinions of the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Volume 3, 1923–45, and website of Legal Opinions 1901–45 189
​May 2013 Recent decision clarifies legal professional privilege for in-house lawyers 188
​May 2013 Changes to the operation of Division 81 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 187
​May 2013 High Court considers unreasonableness ground of judicial review of administrative decisions 186
​May 2013 Exposure draft proposal to amend the Constitution released 185
​March 2013 Victorian Court of Appeal changes approach to civil penalties by consent 183
​February 2013 High Court finds Google not responsible for misleading 'sponsored links' 182
​February 2013 Amendments to the Public Service Act 1999 181
​January 2013 Commonwealth win in the Victorian alpine grazing case 179
​December 2012 ACT Court of Appeal confirms police responsibilities for prevention of crime are critical to determining whether a duty of care is owed 178
​December 2012 Freedom of information requests to the Official Secretary to the Governor-General 177
​November 2012 Full Federal Court decision on public interest immunity 174
​November 2012 Supreme Court decision on the mistaken release of material determined to be exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 173
​October 2012 High Court delivers its reasons in the challenges to the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 171
​October 2012 High Court decides that regulations are inconsistent with the Migration Act 1958 170
​October 2012 Federal Court decision on unwanted door knocking 167
​September 2012 Implied term of mutual trust and confidence in employment contracts: what does it mean for Commonwealth agencies? 166
​September 2012 High Court decision clarifies adverse action provisions in the Fair Work Act 2009 165
​September 2012 High Court decision on third party access under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 164
​September 2012 Full Federal Court decision on loss or damage in the context of civil penalty matters 162
​September 2012 High Court decision on procedural fairness 161
​September 2012 Federal Court decision on Federal Magistrates' superannuation entitlements 160
​August 2012 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights tables first report 159
​August 2012 High Court upholds Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 158
​June 2012 National Energy Retail Law to commence on 1 July 2012 156
​June 2012 Legislation enacted today in response to High Court's decision in Williams v Commonwealth 155
​May 2012 Proposed amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 153
​May 2012 High Court decision on the duties of corporate officers 151
​May 2012 Federal Court decision on the service of documents by post 150
​April 2012 Copyright inquiry draft terms of reference released for public comment 149
​April 2012 Taking genuine steps statements seriously 147
​March 2012 Proposed new oversight, review and conduct provisions for the Australian Public Service 145
​February 2012 Public holidays in South Australia 144
​January 2012 New work health and safety laws now in operation 142