The Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and their Families First) Bill 2019 (the first Bill) was introduced into the House of Representatives on 14 February 2019. The first Bill lapsed on 11 April 2019 with the dissolution of the 45th Parliament. The Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Bill 2019 (the Bill) was introduced into the Senate on 4 July 2019 with provisions identical to the first Bill. Read more...
The Australian Government introduced the Road Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill) into the Senate on 4 July 2019. The Bill seeks to amend both the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (the Road Vehicle Standards Act) and Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018 (the Consequential and Transitional Provisions Act) to allow for further time before the substantive provisions of the new road vehicles legislative scheme, as set out in the Road Vehicle Standards Act, comes into effect. The Explanatory Memorandum notes that the Bill will allow for a smoother transition for both industry and government to the new regime. The industry peak body, ... Read more...
It’s been said that ‘you’re more likely to divorce than switch banks’. Open Banking (OB) may not help with the divorce rate, but it is intended to make it easier to switch banks. The Big Four banks commenced a pilot of OB on 1 July 2019, and other banks are scheduled to participate in OB from July 2020. What is OB, how does it work, and how does OB relate to the proposed Consumer Data Right (CDR)? Read more...
Reports at the end of June that the President of Sri Lanka had ordered the execution of four prisoners (now stayed by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court) after a 43-year moratorium on capital punishment have caused alarm. This follows Brunei’s decision in May, after international outrage, to abandon the introduction of death-by-stoning for adultery and sex between men. Malaysia’s new government, on the other hand, announced in late 2018 that it would abolish the death penalty for all crimes, and PNG is currently debating whether to retain capital punishment. While Australia remains abolitionist for all crimes in all circumstances, countries in our region vary in their approach to th... Read more...
Recent media reports indicated that Senator Jacquie Lambie intended to support the Government’s (now passed) tax cuts if the Government provided further assistance to help tackle homelessness in Tasmania. In making her case, Senator Lambie referred to Tasmania’s outstanding housing debt to the Australian Government. Senator Lambie argued that the repayments and interest on this debt are detracting from the state’s ability to build further social housing and reduce housing waiting lists. Senator Lambie’s call for Australian Government assistance follows reports last month that Tasmanian’s Housing Minister, Roger Jaensch intended to approach the Government... Read more...
Last week—28 June 2019—marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles—or to give it its full name, the Treaty of Peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany, and Protocol. This date in 1919 marked the fifth anniversary of the event that sparked the First World War, the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. The Treaty was the most important outcome of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919–20 and was signed for Australia by Prime Minister William (Billy) Hughes and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Navy, Joseph Cook. Read more...
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