
Publication
Essential Corporate News – Week ending 23 May 2025
The Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Annotation) Regulations 2025 and an accompanying Explanatory Memorandum were published on 14 May 2025.
Australia | Publication | August 2022
Modern Slavery Act review
The Terms of Reference for the statutory review of the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Act) have been released and public submissions are now open.
On 22 August 2022 the Attorney-General’s Department released its Issues Paper for public consultation in relation to the operation of the Act since its commencement in January 2019 and whether any reforms are necessary or desirable to improve compliance.
The consultation process presents an opportunity for business and other key stakeholders to provide feedback on their experience in dealing with the Act to date and their views on proposed legislative changes.
Matters to be considered in the review include:
The question of whether the legislature will introduce financial penalties for non-compliance is a live issue. France, Canada, the United States and Germany have already introduced or proposed to introduce legislation that will impose civil penalties or sanctions on companies that fail to comply with mandatory due diligence procedures or reporting requirements.
The review of the Act is expected to be completed by 31 March 2023.
Any person or organisation seeking to make a submission must do so by midnight AEST 22 November 2022. To ensure that you have your say, make a submission by:
Modern Slavery Act Review Secretariat
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
ModernSlaveryActReview@abf.gov.au
Attorney General’s Department responsibility for the MSA
The Australian Border Force, which sits under the Department of Home Affairs, has announced that responsibility for the Act is now with the Attorney-General’s Department. The review will be undertaken by Professor John McMillan, AO, supported by this department.
See our update regarding the impact of a change of government upon the review of the Act.
This article was co-authored with Amy O'Bryan.
Knowledge
Publication
The Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Annotation) Regulations 2025 and an accompanying Explanatory Memorandum were published on 14 May 2025.
Publication
In a recent decision, Matco Tools Corporation v. Canada (Attorney General), the Federal Court has overturned a Commissioner of Patents (the Commissioner) decision regarding a patent applicant failing to meet the “due care” standard in the context of an unpaid maintenance fee.
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