Victoria is reshaping how reportable conduct and child safety concerns are regulated, with responsibility shifting to the Social Services Regulator amid rising notifications and non‑compliance. The changes highlight expanding institutional liability risks and the need for organisations to strengthen child‑safeguarding frameworks.
A local government's decision to approve a mid-rise apartment building is overturned by the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland.
An appeal against a local government's decision to refuse a proposed service centre and two fast food outlets is dismissed because the proposed development would unacceptably diminish scenic, rural character and rural amenity values.
The majority of the Queensland Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal in the case of Redland City Council v Burns [2025] QCA 222 concerning a development offence related to clearing native vegetation without a development permit, having found that an honest claim of right defence under the Criminal Code was open on the evidence.
NSW has passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2026, amending the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) to require employers to manage worker safety risks from AI and other digital work systems. The changes also introduce union inspection powers and are expected to increase regulatory scrutiny once in force.
The timing in an enforcement order for delivering car parks and driveways related to the use of a marina in Gladstone has been changed to limit the use of the marina if they are not delivered by the revised time.
