MONDAY 1ST

Jail time, hefty fines: New Australian laws would target social media sites over violent content

Australia is set to become the first country in the world to introduce jail terms and multi-million-dollar fines for social media giants that don't quickly remove violent material.

Canberra's drug-driving laws should be relaxed if cannabis is legalised in the ACT, Law Society says

Canberra's legal fraternity has called for a relaxing of drug-driving laws if cannabis is legalised in the ACT, saying the consequences are often too harsh and "disproportionate" to the level of impairment.

Pope Francis Issues New Vatican Legislation Requiring Immediate Reporting of Sex Abuse

Pope Francis on Friday issued sweeping new sex abuse legislation for Vatican personnel and diplomats that requires the immediate reporting of abuse allegations to Vatican prosecutors, a policy shift aimed at being a model for the Catholic Church worldwide.

TUESDAY 2ND

Labor to bring in $50m fines for companies breaching competition laws

Companies would face fines of up to $50 million or 30 per cent of the value of the annual sales for products that rip off consumers, under a Labor plan it says will help drive economic growth. On Saturday Labor will announce its plans to dramatically increase the penalties for breaches of Australian Consumer Law and the Competition and Consumer Act, which were lifted only last year.

Self-regulation of life insurance is failing

After a series of scandals, parliamentary inquiries, a royal commission and two codes of conduct, an inaugural report into the $40 billion life insurance sector along with a database and statistics released by the regulators shows that industry self-regulation is failing.

Designer stops selling Tayla Harris T-shirt after AFL legal threats

An independent Melbourne online clothes store has stopped selling T-shirts with an "original design" depicting footy star Tayla Harris after the AFL claimed the artwork breached copyright.

The whistle-shaped hole in our laws

Australia is finally protecting those who expose corrupt businesses, but not corrupt bureaucracies. 

WEDNESDAY 3RD

Alleged Christchurch massacre supporter has internet ban upheld, calls media 'animals'

An Adelaide man charged after allegedly posting comments online in support of the Christchurch terrorist attack has lost his bid to be allowed to use the internet again.

Construction site tragedy sparks call for NSW manslaughter laws

Unions say national industrial manslaughter laws must be introduced to prevent further tragedies on building sites across the country, amid an outpouring of grief over the death of an teenage apprentice in a scaffolding collapse at Macquarie Park.

Shark culling banned on Great Barrier Reef after campaigners win landmark court ruling

Sharks can no longer be culled on the Great Barrier Reef after a landmark court ruling overturned an Australian government culling scheme. Campaigners had fought to end the practice of killing sharks, which is meant to reduce the risk of attacks in the region.

THURSDAY 4TH

Federal Budget dedicates $7.8 million for child sex offender list

Australians will soon be able to search child sex offenders in their local area and see their photo and details about their crimes.

Legislate for smaller portion sizes to fight obesity, says doctor

A diabetes specialist has called for the government to introduce new laws to force restaurants and junk food companies to serve up smaller portion sizes.

Lendlease faces class action over share plunge

The company building the delayed NorthConnex project in Sydney is facing a class action from investors over its November share price plunge, caused in part by it revealing it was behind schedule on the multibillion-dollar road development.

Sydney Opera House contractor forced to re-hire woman drunk at function appeals Fair Work decision

A Sydney company forced by the Fair Work Commission to re-hire an employee it fired for breaching its "code of conduct" by getting drunk and vomiting at a function at the Sydney Opera House is appealing the decision.

FRIDAY 5TH

Is uninvited bottom-pinching 'indecent' by today's standards? This magistrate didn't think so

In a recent court case in Western Australia, Magistrate Michelle Ridley ruled that "in an era of twerking" and easy access to pornography, it was not an indecent assault when a police officer pinched a woman's backside.

Viagogo boss warns ticket rules could push buyers to black market

The head of controversial ticket resale platform Viagogo warns that capping the price of re-sold tickets could push consumers into a black market and strip away customer rights.

Police praised for punishing right lane-hogging driver in NSW

Motorists have praised police for cracking down on a law many drivers ignore, with one man copping a huge fine for breaking it.

Christchurch massacre: Australian man charged with 50 counts of murder facing High Court

New Zealand Police have announced the accused terrorist behind the Christchurch attack will face 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges.