Alert - Shipping News

30 September 2008

This brief update on recent developments and items of interest in the shipping world includes: Extension of Australia's exclusive economic zone New Bill affects registrations of finance interests in ships Refund guarantees for financing shipbuilding in China

Higher Education Focus

29 September 2008

Higher Education Focus aims to provide in-house counsel at higher education institutions with a succinct analysis and summary of key legal issues.

Using PPPs for university student accommodation projects

29 September 2008

In spite of current financial conditions universities are increasingly turning to public private partnerships (PPPs) as the preferred means of funding, building and operating student accommodation projects.

Case Note: University of Melbourne v McKean [2008] VSC 325

29 September 2008

The Victorian Supreme Court has upheld a student's claim, under the Freedom of Information Act, for access to examinations papers and marking guides.

CRC program to re-focus on dealing with significant challenges facing Australia

29 September 2008

As part of a wider examination of Australia's national innovation system, the Federal Government commissioned a review of Australia's Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program. The resulting report, Collaborating to a purpose, released in August 2008, recognised the important role the CRC Program still plays in Australia's innovation system by encouraging large-scale collaborative research but also recommended several changes and improvements to address perceived problems with the Program itself and issues raised by universities, other research entities, industry and CRCs themselves.

Alert - Draft Short Selling Bill released

26 September 2008

On 23 September 2008, Treasury released an exposure draft on the Australian Government's Corporations Amendment (Short Selling) Bill 2008 (Bill) which requires the disclosure of covered short sales transactions on Australian financial markets. Submissions on the Bill must be made to Treasury by 21 October 2008.

Alert - ASIC clarifies its prohibition on short selling

25 September 2008

On 23 September 2008, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) provided further clarification on its prohibition on short selling.

Alert - High Court rules on Pilbara rail access

25 September 2008

The High Court has handed down its decision in the case of BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd v NCC. The Court had to decide whether two railway lines operated by BHP Billiton in the Pilbara region of Western Australia could be declared under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA).

Alert - Changes to ACT's Unit Titles Act impacts developers and body corporate managers

25 September 2008

Unit title developers, owners and body corporate managers in the ACT face new compliance obligations following recent changes to the territory's Unit Titles Act. The amending legislation, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 26 August, intends to address a number of issues in relation to the purchase of home units as well as provide further protection for consumers.

Alert - New EU financial market reforms

25 September 2008

On 23 September 2008 the European Parliament called for strict new EU rules governing high-risk private equity and hedge fund activity, even though top regulators in the EU had said there were no plans to push forward extra legislation. These latest reforms follow announcements made last week that regulators throughout Europe have begun taking action to restrict short selling.