GL Insights
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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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) …
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Lessons in Contract Law from Shao v Crown Global Capital Pty Ltd
27/05/2026 In a recent decision, the High Court in Shao v Crown Global Capital Pty Ltd (in prov liq) [2025] HCA 43 tackled the complexities of contract construction when multiple parties are involved. The case centred on a disputed payment clause in a million-dollar loan agreement, offering valuable insights for anyone dealing with multi-party contracts. Ms …
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1 July 2026 Law Changes
26/05/2026 Nationwide law changes 1 July 2026 This month’s budget announcements are likely to impact a number of legal services we provide, from legal structure advice through to wills and estates. These changes are still to be passed through Parliament, and we will write more about this in the future. A new national minimum wage …
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Workers are being left behind in the AI adoption race, advocates warn
26/05/2026 Unions are continuing to sound the alarm on the impact widespread adoption of AI could have on workers’ rights, warning the lack of legal guardrails risks the erosion of job security and further entrenchment of socioeconomic inequality. A union backed report released by the John Curtin Research Centre (JCRC) has highlighted the importance of …
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