Law, governance and risk — the court cases, regulatory actions and legal shifts that matter to business.
The former ASX-listed payments company and its ex-CEO largely lost their appeal, leaving a $10 million company penalty, a $1 million personal penalty and a six-year management ban in place.
AUSTRAC sought $400 million and The Star argued for no more than $100 million. The Federal Court landed in between, and allowed the casino operator to pay in four instalments.
1 Nov 2026
Exposure draft legislation would raise the minimum debt for forcing someone into bankruptcy, give debtors 28 days to respond to a bankruptcy notice and stop debt agreement proposals counting as an act of bankruptcy.
31 Oct 2026
The regulator has launched civil penalty proceedings alleging serious failures in managing a fund that took in more than $600 million, largely from Australians’ super. The allegations are yet to be tested.
30 Oct 2026
The produce wholesaler has admitted cartel conduct on broccoli, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce supplied to ALDI in NSW. The Federal Court will decide whether the proposed penalty is appropriate.
29 Oct 2026
Hundreds of deals have been cleared quickly under Australia’s new compulsory merger regime, but a blocked Coles lease and a September round of amendments show the rules are still settling.
27 Oct 2026
The first sectors are now designated under Australia’s Scams Prevention Framework, AFCA membership is already compulsory, and the main prevent, detect and disrupt obligations bite from 31 March 2027.
26 Oct 2026
A $1.35 million penalty against Fortnum Private Wealth, following FIIG Securities’ $2.5 million penalty in February, confirms ASIC will litigate weak cyber controls as a breach of licence obligations.
25 Oct 2026
Four months after “tranche 2” anti-money laundering obligations took effect, AUSTRAC has begun issuing infringement notices to businesses that failed to enrol.
24 Oct 2026
Draft legislation released in September would ban non-compete clauses for workers earning under $190,100, with the government aiming for the reforms to take effect in 2027.
22 Oct 2026
From 10 December 2026, businesses covered by the Privacy Act must disclose in their privacy policies when computer programs use personal information to make or substantially inform significant decisions.
21 Oct 2026
Thousands more companies are now in their first mandatory climate reporting year, as ASIC publishes its verdict on the first reports and Treasury consults on easing the regime’s costs.
19 Oct 2026
ASIC’s fourth greenwashing civil penalty is the first to rest on a responsible entity’s duty of care and diligence, putting fund governance on notice.
18 Oct 2026
Nearly three years after penalties for unfair contract terms took effect, regulators are testing the regime in court, with a payday lender penalised and Amazon facing an ACCC claim.
16 Oct 2026
Since 1 July 2026, employers must get superannuation into workers’ funds within seven business days of each payday, under a tougher charge and penalty regime.
14 Oct 2026
The decision sharpens expectations on boards around climate and disclosure risk.
4 Oct 2026
A ban on most non-compete clauses is on the way, but millions of workers are bound by restraints right now. Here is how the courts treat them today, and why many are weaker than they look.
10 Sep 2026
The regulator has signalled a tougher stance on misleading sustainability claims in product disclosure statements.
3 Sep 2026
