NSW Government Bulletin summer edition: The more things change

Enrolling to vote in federal elections was made compulsory in 1912, whereas actual voting was made compulsory in 1924.

Modern slavery frameworks are undergoing rapid transformation globally, with organisations facing mounting pressure to demonstrate meaningful action beyond mere reporting. This three-part podcast series examines the legal, regulatory and practical developments reshaping modern slavery compliance across Australia, the UK and beyond, from enforcement reforms and mandatory due diligence to trade restrictions and emerging litigation risks.

A tourist visa essentially allows a person outside Australia to visit the country as a tourist.

Australian government agencies face a December 2026 deadline to update their privacy policies with detailed explanations of automated decision-making systems. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's new guidance clarifies when computer-assisted decisions trigger disclosure obligations, how human oversight affects those requirements, and what specific information agencies must reveal about the personal data and decision types involved in their automated processes.

The Australian Government has announced plans to legislate mandatory AI safety and security protections for frontier AI companies operating in Australia, establishing a new targeted regulator to enforce compliance. The proposed framework will require companies to maintain security controls, identify risks, allow independent evaluations, and rapidly report incidents, though key details regarding definitions, thresholds, and penalties remain to be determined through consultation and drafting.

Discusses the legal consequences of failure to vote in elections.

Explains Australia's Special Response teams, their training & capabilities, high profile operations & more.

These detainees, the majority of whom are former long-term residents of Australia, are classed as "unlawful noncitizens".

The legal definition of genocide in international law is contained in Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide 1948 (Genocide Convention).

Australia's data centre sector is attracting significant foreign investment, but the regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving. Projects now face complex requirements spanning national security reviews, critical infrastructure obligations, energy and water constraints, and social licence considerations that investors must navigate strategically.

The Australian Government's proposed digital duty of care reforms would extend online safety obligations far beyond social media platforms to encompass any business operating websites, digital platforms, or AI-enabled tools. Rather than simply responding to complaints, businesses would need to proactively identify foreseeable risks and implement safeguards, with substantial penalties for non-compliance reaching up to $109.2 million for companies. The exposure draft introduces a fundamental shift from reacti

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has released guidance on new automated decision-making transparency requirements under the Privacy Act, commencing 10 December. Private sector organisations using AI-enabled products, recruitment technologies, fraud detection tools, pricing algorithms and other data-driven systems must now assess whether their automated systems trigger disclosure obligations in privacy policies.

Australia's 2026-27 Budget introduces sweeping changes to capital gains tax, negative gearing, and discretionary trust taxation, fundamentally reshaping decades of established tax policy. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 has now received Royal Assent, but significant controversy surrounds key provisions including the new 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts and restrictions on corporate beneficiaries. How will these reforms affect existing trust structures, investment strategies, a

The Fair Work Commission has introduced new guidance requiring parties to disclose their use of generative AI in proceedings, following a 70% surge in workload attributed to AI-generated applications. A recent case demonstrates the consequences of blind reliance on AI tools, with one applicant ordered to pay costs after continuing a jurisdictionally flawed claim despite repeated warnings from the Commission.

The Australian Government has released exposure draft legislation for a proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, effective from 1 July 2028. Trustees now face three strategic pathways: remain within the minimum tax regime, restructure using transitional rollover relief, or elect into the new excluded election trust (EET) regime with restricted distribution flexibility.

Australian government agencies face a December 2026 deadline to update their privacy policies with detailed explanations of automated decision-making systems. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's new guidance clarifies when computer-assisted decisions trigger disclosure obligations, how human oversight affects those requirements, and what specific information agencies must reveal about the personal data and decision types involved in their automated processes.

Victoria's new Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan introduces comprehensive planning, renewable energy, and community benefit requirements for data centre developments. The regulations establish location restrictions, noise limits, renewable energy mandates, and water supply requirements while creating new referral authorities to oversee compliance. These changes will significantly impact how developers and operators plan and execute data centre projects in Victoria's rapidly expanding market.

Recent cases demonstrate the importance of ensuring that businesses do not mislead consumers. Tips on how to comply with the ACL.

Australia's 2026-27 Federal Budget introduces sweeping tax reforms that fundamentally reshape investment planning, trust structures, and business operations. The replacement of the 50% CGT discount with indexed gains and a 30% minimum tax, restrictions on negative gearing to new builds only, and a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts create unprecedented challenges for property investors, professional services firms, and family businesses. Understanding how these three interconnected measures work togeth

The High Court of Australia has delivered a landmark judgment on greenhouse gas emissions in mining development applications, examining whether consent authorities must consider conditions to minimize Scope 3 emissions. The case centers on a judicial review of the Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion approval, where the Independent Planning Commission imposed conditions on Scope 1 and 2 emissions but not on Scope 3 emissions that represented 98% of the project's total emissions.