Think You Are Too Young For a Will? Think Again
For many, the word Will still brings to mind something reserved for the elderly, the wealthy, or those facing serious illness. In reality, a Will is a powerful document that allows you to take control of how your assets, property, and personal affairs are managed [...]
Not just pies and beer – Court rules Racing NSW cannot appoint an administrator to ATC
The Supreme Court of New South Wales has set aside Racing NSW’s appointment of an administrator to the Australian Turf Club (ATC) in Australian Turf Club Ltd v Racing NSW (No 2) [2026] NSWSC 184. In September 2025 Racing NSW issued a show cause notice [...]
To Scan or Not to Scan – Administrative Review Tribunal decision on Bunnings’ use of facial recognition tech
The Administrative Review Tribunal (Tribunal) recently set aside the Privacy Commissioner’s (Commissioner) 2024 determination[1] that Bunnings Group Limited’s (Bunnings) had acted unlawfully in its use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in stores, finding that Bunnings conduct in scanning customer faces fell within a statutory exception of [...]
Employees Beware of the Side Hustle
The Fair Work Commission has upheld a dismissal of a senior staff-member for taking up a secondary job because it contravened their contractual duties. With side jobs and secondary careers becoming increasingly common, this decision highlights the importance of reviewing the terms of employment before considering [...]
No financial need, no provision: carer wife’s claim for share of husband’s estate thrown out
The Supreme Court has recently dismissed a claim brought by a surviving wife seeking provision from her deceased husband’s estate, on the basis that the wife could not demonstrate financial need. The Court found that her claim for a share of her husband’s estate had [...]
Unfair Dismissal Claim Fails after Employee Refuses Return to Office Direction
Executive Summary The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has dismissed an unfair dismissal claim brought by a PaperCut employee who was terminated after refusing to comply with a return to office direction. The Commission found the direction to be lawful and reasonable and held that the [...]
Criminal Record Checks at Work: Relevance, Spent Convictions and Privacy Risks for Employers
Criminal record checks are now a routine feature of recruitment in many industries, and are increasingly considered by employers as part of their broader risk management and compliance frameworks. They are often introduced with practical objectives in mind: the protection of staff and customers, meeting [...]
Set-Off Clauses Challenged – Federal Court Clarifies Award Payment Obligations in a Major Wakeup Call for Employers
A landmark Federal Court decision has confirmed that set-off clauses in employment contracts will not always validly discharge award entitlements. In Fair Work Ombudsman v Woolworths Group Limited [2025] FCA 1092, the Federal Court held that employers cannot average or offset award underpayments across different [...]
Victoria’s new psychosocial health regulations have commenced – Employers are you complying?
Victoria's new psychosocial health regulations have commenced – Employers are you complying? Since 1 December 2025 a new positive duty applies to Victorian employers to proactively identify, manage and eliminate psychosocial hazards in their workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 (the [...]
Beyond Policy – The FWC Reinforces the Duty to Genuinely Consider Flexible Work Arrangements
A recent employment dispute heard by the Fair Work Commission (‘FWC’) has highlighted the obligation that employers have when dealing with requests for flexible working arrangements. In Chandler v Westpac [2025] FWC 3115, the FWC found that the employer, in refusing their employee’s request to [...]