News
WA Defence Industry: Prepping your business for COVID-19
Just as families around Australia are prepping to weather COVID-19, so are countless businesses, including SME’s working in the WA Defence space. Getting your business ready for a concurrent pandemic and recession …
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DISP Defends Business and Security
In 2019, the Australian government announced reforms to the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP)1. DISP ensures that goods and services contracted by Defence conform to a requisite level of confidentiality. Arrangements under the reformed DISP should increase industry’s access to defence contracts by simplifying the process of preparing for, and adhering to, security requirements.
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A blow to media defendants – Indemnity costs under section 40(2) of the Defamation Act
Section 40(2) of the Defamation Act 2005 (WA) relevantly provides that a successful defamation plaintiff who is awarded their costs must be awarded their costs on an indemnity basis if the Court …
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Bushfire crisis: Are those protecting us really protected?
When the bushfire crises across South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria passes, there will be a plethora of reviews of the response of the Commonwealth and State Governments, and also the …
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Proposed defamation reforms set to strip small business of existing rights
The Parliament and Attorneys General of Australia are in discussions set to amend existing defamation laws. One of the amendments proposed will, if implemented, strip small businesses of an existing right. The …
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Jensen wins defamation proceedings
On 20 December 2019, former Federal MP, Dr Dennis Jensen was awarded $325,000 in damages and interest by the WA Supreme Court against Nationwide News Pty Ltd, which owns The Australian masthead, …
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AG comments flag future threat to online platforms
In an address to the National Press Club last week, the Federal Attorney-General, Christian Porter said that under the proposed reforms to Australia’s defamation laws, social media giants such as Facebook and …
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Defence Contractors and the Equal Opportunity Act
The Problem:
The Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA) (EO Act) prohibits discrimination against persons on the grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy, family responsibility or family status, race, religious or political conviction, impairment, age or gender history.
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Procurement shake-up: What it means for SME’s engaging with the Department of Defence?
Overview The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) have been updated to clarify domestic obligations under relevant Trans-Pacific partnerships and World Trade Agreements. Since 20 April 2019, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are now …
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“Why not litigate?”: A snapshot of ASIC’s Corporate Plan for 2019-2023 and the implications for business and consumers
What is it? The Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) Corporate Plan for 2019-2023 sets out the regulator’s vision and mission statements, and how it will meet the strategic goals it has …
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