MONDAY 4TH

Australia's banks offer mea culpa ahead of royal commission report

"Australia’s big banks have launched a public mea culpa ahead of the release of the long-anticipated, likely scarifying, findings of the banking royal commission, acknowledging they have failed their customers, and arguing the Hayne report is a chance to reset the sector."

Banking commission's tight deadlines worsened legal profession's overwork culture, lawyers say

The Royal Commission into Australian financial institutions pushed lawyers to their limits, working 15 hour shifts, 7 days a week. It reveals a wider issue of overworked lawyers with excessive expectations of workload.

Facebook post ends in $250k lawsuit

In 2013, Queensland University of Technology admin worker Cindy Prior, asked a handful of students to leave the indigenous-only computer lab. The students posted about the event on Facebook. Ms Prior responded by suing the students for $250,000 using the Racial Discrimination Act. The students won the case. Now, Ms Prior has revealed she is bankrupt, and so will pay the students across three years.

Former Cop In Australia Gaoled For Using Police Databases To Look Up Tinder Dates

A WA former policeman has been imprisoned for 6 months for using police databases to screen potential dates he had found on dating apps, such as Tinder. He plead guilty to 180 charges of misusing police databases over a 12 year period.

TUESDAY 5TH

How To Deal With Your Parents' Stuff When They Die

The article outlines 11 steps to ease the often overwhelming process of managing the belongings of a loved one who has passed.

Banks may face criminal charges after final royal commission report

"Some of Australia’s biggest banks could face criminal prosecution over the shocking fee-for-no-service scandal as part of a sweeping response to the royal commission’s damning final report."

WEDNESDAY 6TH

Worker's compensation case could set precedent after pre-shift smoko ruled 'enforced work break'

"The case of a McDonald's worker who broke her leg during a rooftop smoko could end up having far-reaching implications for workers whose bosses make them turn up to work before their official clocking-on time."

Groped, propositioned, ogled: life as a female barrister in Victoria

Victorian Legal Services Commissioner Fiona McLeay has announced that there will be a state-wide survey to understand the reality of sexual harassment experienced by Victorian lawyers. It is part of a year-long investigation into sexual harassment in the workplace.

Call to change controversial 40km/h rule around emergency vehicles

The Police Association of NSW and the NRMA are concerned about the recent ruling to enforce all drivers to slow to 40km/h around emergency vehicles. There is talk that it is more dangerous to slow down, for example going from 110km/h on a highway to 40km/h.

Hawaii may increase legal smoking age to 100

Democrat Richard Creagan has proposed to increase the legal smoking age to 30 in 2020, 30 in 2021, 50 in 2022, 60 in 2023 and 100 in 2024.

THURSDAY 7TH

Centrelink cancels 40,000 robodebts, new figures reveal

"Centrelink has now wiped, reduced or written off 70,000 “robodebts”, new figures show, as the government’s automated welfare debt recovery schemefaces a landmark court challenge."

Optus fined $10 million for misleading customers

"Optus has been hit with a $10 million fine for misleading customers over digital content and in one of the highest penalties to be handed down by the Federal Court over a consumer matter."

Outback Ballooning can face charges over death of Sydney woman Stephanie Bernoth, High Court rules

Stephanie Bernoth was fatally injured when her scarf was sucked into the inflation fan as she was boarding Outback Ballooning's hot air balloon in 2013. NT Work Health Authority has taken the matter to court, saying that the company did not adequately protect or eliminate hazards, such as loose clothing, scarves and long hair.

Wellington woman wins $9000 payout for a day's work

Helena Mawhinney has been awarded about $9000 in an employment law dispute. She worked a full day at a cafe, and was told at the end of the day that her shift was in fact an unpaid trial to see if she was suitable for the job. Michele Ryan, a member of the Employment Relations Authority, said that as Mawhinney's work contributed to an economic benefit to the cafe, she should be awarded compensation, four week's notice and her wages for that day.

FRIDAY 8TH

One in five parents had payments cut in first six months of new welfare program

"One in five parents on the government’s contentious job-ready scheme for disadvantaged parents had their payments suspended in the program’s first six months, new data reveals."

"Facebook has been ordered to curb its data collection practices in Germany after a ruling that the world's largest social network abused its market dominance to gather information about users without their knowledge or consent."

Woody Allen Sues Amazon for Terminating Movie Deal

"The filmmaker questions the validity of the termination, saying it is based on decades-old allegations that Amazon knew about when it signed up Allen for new work."

Intellectual property law in the world of surfing

This article outlines how Intellectual property has shaped surfing to be the beloved sport we know today!