Top five overlooked issues with parenting orders
Parenting orders often unravel, not over the fundamental principles, but due to small practical details the orders do not spell out.
7 January 2026
Parenting orders often unravel, not over the fundamental principles, but due to small practical details the orders do not spell out.
2025 has been a pivotal year in Australian employment law, with significant changes redefining workplace rights and obligations. This article provides an overview of landmark decisions and legislative reforms from the past year, highlighting key developments and what to expect in the year ahead.
From Friday 12 December 2025, standalone battery energy storage system developments are subject to Queensland’s new renewables planning regime, which was introduced earlier this year for wind and solar farms.
Evidence from phones and apps now sits at the centre of many disputes and courts are increasingly deciding how screenshots, messages and covert recordings should be treated.
Major reforms to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 will take effect from 1 July 2026, expanding its scope to a range of businesses not currently caught by the legislation. This will include key participants within the property sector, who will become subject to the AML/CTF regime and need to demonstrate compliance with the applicable obligations.
Cooper Grace Ward’s disputes team recently acted for a major commercial landlord in the successful defence of a Queensland Supreme Court case about a consultant’s authority to bind a landlord to a leasing deal. The case provides some useful insights into the risks associated with commercial lease negotiations through agents.
In the recent decision of Tamati v MQT Pty Ltd , the Fair Work Commission found that an employee’s dismissal for refusing to take an alcohol breath test was unfair because the employer’s drug and alcohol policy was unclear and had not been properly applied.
Builder’s side deeds offer a lender assurances in a variety of contexts, including where there is a default or insolvency on the part of a borrower that would give rise to a termination right under a construction contract between the borrower and a builder.
Artificial intelligence is beginning to appear in Australian courtrooms. While it may create efficiencies, recent cases show the real dangers of lawyers or parties relying on it too heavily.
Parents often clash over which school their child should attend. Courts avoid ranking schools and instead focus on what best serves the child’s interests.
In the landmark decision of Fair Work Ombudsman v Woolworths Group Limited, the Federal Court found that set-off clauses in employment contracts will only validly discharge award entitlements if the payment under the clause occurs within the same period those entitlements are earned.
Understanding how your not-for-profit handles personal information is crucial to maintaining trust and meeting legal obligations. Not-for-profits may be required to comply with the Privacy Act and practical guidance is available on how to protect personal data, manage breaches, and work with third parties to safeguard privacy and strengthen community confidence.