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The Federal Court this week delivered just the third decision on quantum of native title compensation, and the first relating to mining activities in Western Australia.

The New South Wales Court of Appeal's decision in The Owners Strata Plan No 66375 v King clarified critical aspects of statutory warranties under the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), particularly regarding design defects and developer liability. The case examined whether developers could be held liable for defects originating in architectural design rather than construction workmanship, and whether statutory warranties extend beyond the express terms of building contracts.

Australian employers face expanded workplace incident reporting obligations under new notification laws that broaden the scope of reportable events to include extended absences, work-related self-harm, violent incidents, and an enhanced definition of serious injuries. Understanding these changes and implementing robust tracking and reporting systems will be critical for compliance once states and territories adopt the amended model Work Health and Safety laws.