ASIC Report 639 Financial advice by superannuation funds was published on 3 December. It examines the ways in which superannuation funds provide financial advice to members and the overall quality of personal financial advice obtained through funds. ...

Anyone with even a passing professional interest in superannuation and funds will be familiar with 'RG 97' . This Insight examines the key changes made to regime after the ASIC review. ...

This Insight considers the regulatory effect of the grandfathering of the conflicted remuneration clause, 6½ years after it came into effect. ...

The Productivity Commission is examining resources sector regulation, with a focus on identifying opportunities to simplify approval processes without compromising environmental standards or community expectations. ...

Legislation focusing on imposing new obligations on design consultants and builders was recently introduced to the NSW Parliament. Importantly, the Design and Building Practitioners Bill creates a statutory duty of care owed by builders, and others, for economic loss for defects in construction serv ...

In this report, teams from 16 countries including Australia have summarised legal and commercial developments in the fintech space for 2019 and looked forward in predicting likely themes in 2020. ...

The demand for plant-based 'meat' alternatives is predicted to grow. As with any new industry, there is a series of regulatory issues that businesses should carefully navigate at the early planning phase. This is to avoid encountering issues down the track that may affect the marketing and supply of such products in Australia. ...

Australia's modern slavery reporting regime was introduced one year ago, and 2020 will see the first set of modern slavery statements published by reporting entities. ...

The Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024 has been released for public consultation. The Strategy is supported by new koala habitat mapping. The Strategy and mapping have serious implications for landowners in koala habitat areas within a Koala Priority Area, who will be prevented from clearing their land except in very limited circumstances. We discuss these implications below and suggest that, at a minimum, landowners should review the mapping to ascertain whether their land is within a Koala Priority Area. ...

With negotiations underway for the free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union (the A-EU FTA), Australian businesses that produce, buy or sell EU and non-EU food, agricultural goods and spirit drinks have to confront the possibility that Australia will agree to give much stronger protection to the names of hundreds of EU products that indicate their geographical origin. We look at some of the key issues in the EU's proposal that would impact Australian businesses' operations and IP portfolios, and consider some of the agreed compromise positions in the EU's other recent FTAs. ...