Queensland Government Bulletin: In the media, In practice and courts, Reports, Cases and Legislation

• Published date: 26 May 2020
• Author: Mr Paul Venus and Suzy Cairney
• Subject Matter: Government, Public Sector, Constitutional & Administrative Law
• Law Firm: Holding Redlich

In the media

LCA: Funding boost will help front line legal services
The $20 million earmarked for domestic violence, $29.8 million towards tenancy disputes, insurance, credit and debt related problems, work related claims and the remaining $13.5 million on IT upgrades is a welcome injection of funding that will help meet a rise in demand for legal services (08 May 2020). More...

CCC reminds public servants to safeguard Queenslanders' information as part of Privacy Awareness Week
As part of Privacy Awareness Week (PAW), the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) is reminding public servants of their responsibility to adhere to privacy and other laws when dealing with confidential and personal information (06 May 2020). More...

Legislation for COVIDSafe App Privacy Protections
Attorney-General, Christian Porter, has released draft legislation which will codify the existing protections for individuals' data collected by the COVIDSafe app that have been established in the Health Minister's Biosecurity Act Determination (04 May 2020). More...

ICA flags caution over Consumer Data Right expansion plans
A Treasury inquiry into whether a so-called "write" access might be added to the Consumer Data Right regime should only proceed if the benefits outweigh the negatives, the Insurance Council of Australia says (04 May 2020). More...

Laws commence to deliver fairer birth certificates
Trans and gender diverse Victorians can now alter the sex recorded on their birth certificate without having to undergo invasive and costly sex affirmation surgery, with new laws now in effect (01 May 2020). More...

Issues Paper released concerning penalties for assaults on public officers
An Issues Paper reviewing penalties for assaults on public officers has identified that 9,061 offenders have been sentenced in Queensland courts for serious assault in the past 10 years under section 340 of the Criminal Code (Qld) (30 April 2020).. More...

Commission welcomes COVIDSafe App
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the COVIDSafe App as an important public health initiative, which can help protect the rights of Australians to health and life. The App also opens the possibility of easing restrictions on other human rights, such as freedom of movement and freedom of association (27 April 2020). More...

In practice and courts

Federal Circuit Court of Australia remodelled website homepage
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia launched a remodelled website homepage on 30 April 2020.
The content of the website has not changed, but court users and practitioners will notice a new layout, including direct links to the Court's three main areas of filing: family law, migration law and general federal law.

Australia update
The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia have announced they are establishing a court list dedicated to deal exclusively with urgent parenting-related disputes that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The list has commenced on 29 April 2020.

Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Courts have issued an electronic Alternative Dispute Resolution. This guide is for ADR events conducted in the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. View the Practitioners guide to electronic ADR (28 April 2020)

OIAC: Consumer Data Right Compliance and Enforcement Policy released
The ACCC and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner jointly released the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Consumer Data Right. View a copy of the Compliance and Enforcement Policy (05 May 2020). More...

OAIC: COVID-19 Privacy guidance
The OAIC has released privacy guidance for agencies and private sector employers to help keep workplaces safe and handle personal information appropriately as part of the COVID-19 response. This includes answers to frequently asked questions. New detailed advice will help regulated entities assess the privacy risks involved in changed working environments, and a new step-by-step tool to help guide them through the Privacy Impact Assessment process (05 May 2020. More...

AAT: COVID-19: New special measures practice directions - 28 April 2020
The AAT President has issued five special measures practice directions that set out how the AAT will operate while COVID-19 impacts its services. The special measures practice directions may take precedence over other directions that deal with the same matter. These directions are in...