GL Insights
The ‘Emojini’ is out to the bottle: The use of emojis in a legal context
28/08/2026 As technology continues to evolve, the law must adapt to new forms of communication and interaction. One emerging issue is the legal significance of emojis, the symbols and images commonly used in digital correspondence. While often regarded as informal or light-hearted, emojis are increasingly being scrutinised in legal disputes and may have consequences that …
Read more
Protecting Children Online: Understanding the Draft Children’s Online Privacy Code
28/08/2026 With children spending more time online, amendments to the Privacy Act introduced a requirement for the Office of the Australian Information Commission (OAIC) to develop a Children’s Online Privacy Code to enhance online privacy protections for children (the Code). For the purposes of the Code, a child is an individual under the age of …
Read more
ASIC to implement Director ID Reporting Requirements
20/08/2026 ASIC has announced that, from 1 July 2027, companies will be required to provide director identification numbers (DIN) to ASIC when updating company details. Currently, directors are required under section 1272C of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to have a DIN but have not been required to provide the number to ASIC. This will …
Read more
How changes to the Australian Consumer Law impact your business
24/07/2026 Recent amendments to Australian Consumer Law (ACL) recently received Royal Assent and will commence on 1 July 2027. The changes aim to strengthen consumer protections against unfair trading practices. The central amendments are a principles‑based prohibition on unfair trading practices toward consumers. New Part 2-4 of the ACL will deal with ‘Unfair Trading Practices’ such as …
Read more
Federal Government passes bill to ease Fair Work Commission’s soaring workload
22/07/2026 The Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026 was passed on 29 June 2026, to attempt to ease the pressure on the FWC flowing from an increase in claims, and to expediate resolution for both employers and employees. The bill was introduced following the number of applications to the Fair …
Read more
Key Issues in Procurement Processes
16/07/2026 In today’s environment of heightened scrutiny and public accountability, organisations cannot afford to overlook their obligations around confidentiality and conflicts of interest during procurement processes. Recent media coverage has highlighted the reputational, financial and legal risks that can arise when these obligations are not properly identified, disclosed or managed. For both clients and their …
Read more
Annual Wage Review Decision – 4.75% increase to Award wages
02/06/2026 On 2 June 2026, the Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review 2026 decision and raised Award wages by 4.75%. Employers must pay the higher rates of pay from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by Awards or …
Read more
Credit Card Surcharge Ban
03/07/2026 Earlier this year the Reserve Bank announced it will lift the prohibition on the existing ‘no-surcharge’ rules for card networks, in an effort to reduce surcharge complexity, reduce costs for businesses and increase surcharge transparency. The changes will be introduced as part of the Reserve Bank’s regulatory powers under the existing Reserve Bank Act …
Read more
Honestly? It’s a perfectly zipped trade mark lesson – Summary of High Court decision in Zip Co Limited v Firstmac Limited HCA 16
28/05/2026 After a three-year legal battle, the High Court have handed down their decision in Zip Co Limited v Firstmac Limited HCA 16 (ZipCo Case). The ZipCo Case has shed some light on the defence of ‘honest concurrent use’ to trade mark infringement including when it is to be assessed and the limits of an …
Read more
GL explains: Why do I need to register a trade mark?
28/05/2026 Why do I need to register a trade mark? – is a question our clients often ask us. Put simply, while not a legal requirement, trade marks are an operational necessity if you’re serious about protecting and promoting your brand. What is a trade mark? According to the Trade Marks Act 1995 (section 17) …
Read more