This Month
It’s evident which way bitcoin is headed
Readers’ letters on the bitcoin craze, investor diligence, psychological injury claims, the Nats’ views on renewables ‘costs’, and solutions to the energy crisis.
The $116b dividend promise of AI
The question is how to manage regulation of the artificial intelligence transformation and unlock the productivity pot of gold.
Fred Schebesta told to stop the parties at Coogee mansion
Randwick City Council may be trying to slow down the eastern suburbs crypto king, but locals are sceptical he will care.
KPMG auditors caught using AI to cheat on tests
Using AI for assessments is already rampant among schoolkids and uni students, so it was only a matter of time before staff at consulting firms jumped on board.
Tim Pallas the most imperfect pick for CFMEU probe
In the union administrator’s defence, it must be hard to find someone in Victoria who doesn’t have a connection to the militant union.
Merger law overhaul risks killing company rescues
The extra costs and time it will take to get ACCC clearance or waiver will make it harder to save struggling companies, particularly active trading companies.
November
Sydney’s Crypto Castle parties catch council’s attention
Fred Schebesta may have beaten the corporate watchdog, but even crypto bros can’t shut down irate neighbours with planning regulations on their side.
Mark Rigotti is wrong. Lawyers aren’t to blame for over-regulation
Most regulatory work is “cost of doing business” work. It needs oversight by experienced lawyers or compliance officers and is likely to be increasingly systemised.
RBA could backtrack on plan to ban credit card surcharges
Minutes from the Payments System Board meeting show the central bank is also considering steps to appease the big banks’ concerns about interchange fees
The environmental reform the Coalition gift-wrapped for the Greens
The EPBC deal was a missed opportunity for the opposition and a win for the minor party, which helps it return to core business.
Why I finally believe Canberra is getting my EPBC reforms done
The foundation stones of the 2020 review – efficiency and efficacy – have eluded us in the context of environmental protection for decades.
APRA imposes debt-to-income limits on home loans for first time
The banking regulator is pushing to preempt a build up of riskier mortgage lending to both home owners and investors as borrowing – and house prices – grow.
Prime minister steps in to hash out environment law deal
Anthony Albanese is in negotiations with the Greens and a deal is expected by the end of the day, but sources say negotiations continue with the Coalition too.
AUSTRAC’s pub test case may rewrite real estate money laundering laws
No court has tested how the “reasonable precautions” defence operates in practice. Such a move could reset the landscape.
Drone outfit EOS admits to disclosure failures, but ex-CEO fights on
The corporate regulator alleges the company and its then-chief executive, Ben Greene, did not tell investors about a downgrade they knew was coming for weeks.
‘Get your house in order’: Watt slams Coalition over environment talks
After Bridget McKenzie demanded last-minute amendments to shield farmers from a national EPA, Watt said he felt like he was dealing with two parties.
Cbus finally puts CFMEU out into the cold
The construction industry super fund may have got there slower than (nearly) everyone else, but it’s finally getting some distance from the union.
PM poised to step in to thrash out final deal on environment laws
Labor is confident of getting the bill passed through Senate this week, and a view is firming within government that the Greens are closest to its position.
Lawyers at fault for Australia’s regulatory red tape burden
At the risk of being disowned by the legal community, it is worth highlighting that external legal spending by firms has tripled since 2010.
Business’ $160b reason to want a deal on broken environment laws
Pressure is mounting on the Coalition to back Labor’s new laws as the Environment Minister makes concessions and company directors push for a swift resolution.