In the media
Acting IBAC Deputy Commissioner appointed
Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption
Commission, IBAC, welcomed the appointment of Ms Kylie Kilgour as
IBAC's new Acting Deputy Commissioner (23 December 2020).
More...
ATO made 'flawed decisions' on denying small
businesses JobKeeper, says tax ombudsman
The tax ombudsman says the ATO has made flawed decisions
on some people's eligibility for the stimulus measure payments,
and needs to give taxpayers clearer guidance (21 December 2020).
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Privacy and Data Protection Deputy Commissioner
commences audit of information security value assessments in the
Victorian public sector
Victoria's Privacy and Data Protection Deputy
Commissioner has commenced an audit of the practices of four
Victorian public sector organisations against the Victorian
Protective Data Security Standards (14 December 2020).
More...
In practice and courts
AAT Bulletin
The AAT Bulletin is a weekly publication containing a list
of recent AAT decisions and information relating to appeals against
AAT decisions, including immigration and citizenship
Issue No. 1/2021, 1 January 2021.
More...
Commonwealth Integrity Commission: Consultation
draft
The Australian Government has released an exposure draft
of legislation to establish the new Commonwealth Integrity
Commission (CIC) and make other consequences
legislative amendments. A
fact sheet about the key features of the CIC has also been
released. The
consultation page includes links to the draft legislation and
further information about other issues under consideration. Closing
date 12 February 2021.
Victoria
Electronic document lodgement is coming soon to the
Magistrates' Court of Victoria and the Children's Court of
Victoria
Electronic document lodgement, known as eDocs, is being
implemented at both Courts across Victoria from November through to
January 2021. This is a preliminary first step being introduced as
part of a broader new case management system that will be rolled
out over the next few years. In the meantime, if you have any
questions, view the Frequently Asked Questions
here.
Inquiry into the Victorian Government's COVID-19
Contact Tracing System and Testing Regime - have your say
The report was published out of session on 14 December
2020, as per the resolution of the House on 10 November 2020 - see
the report
page to download a copy.
Published – articles, papers, reports
Investigation into the detention and treatment of public
housing residents arising from a COVID-19 'hard lockdown'
in July 2020
Victorian Ombudsman: 17 December 2020
The timing of the lockdown of the North Melbourne and Flemington
public housing towers on 4 July 2020 was not based on direct health
advice and violated Victorian human rights laws, this investigation
by the Victorian Ombudsman has found.More...
Cases
Gerner v Victoria [2020] HCA
48
Constitutional law (Cth) – implications from
Constitution – where directions made under s 200(1)(b) and
(d) of Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) restricted
movement of persons within Victoria – where plaintiffs sought
declarations that directions and s 200(1)(b) and (d) of Public
Health and Wellbeing Act were invalid as an infringement of a
freedom to move wherever one wishes for whatever reason
("freedom of movement") said to be implicit in
Constitution – where defendant demurred on ground that
Constitution did not imply freedom of movement – whether
freedom of movement implicit in federal structure of Constitution
– whether freedom of movement protected by implied freedom of
political communication – whether freedom of movement
implicit in s 92 of Constitution.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.