The Australian Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy has published its report on The Integrity Gap: Restoring Trust in the Climate and Energy Debate https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Information_Integrity_on_Climate_Change_and_Energy/ClimateIntegrity/Report I made a submission on the topic of the regulation of astroturfing https://eprints.qut.edu.au/260072/ Its mentioned a few times in the final report.

#auspol #auslaw #climate #misinformation #disinformation #greenwashing #astroturfing #informationintegrity

The Boys Light Up: Australian Crawl Trademark dispute -
'James Reyne and Simon Binks, two of the founding members of veteran pub rock act Australian Crawl, have issued a statement addressing a nascent trademark dispute with former member Bill McDonough.

The statement notes that on Thursday, March 12th, the band's founding members filed an application to the Australian Federal Court challenging McDonough’s acquisition of Australian Crawl trademarks.

McDonough had previously acquired these trademarks back in 1990 for matters relating to “Entertainment services including artists' agencies, sound recording, radio and television programme production, theatre or cinema productions and amusement centres and parks," while he acquired the trademark for matters relating to “Clothing, footwear and all goods” in 1994.

However, the band contends there was never any consultation or agreement with any members of Australian Crawl in relation to registering the trademarks, and "As such, the founding members do not recognise Bill’s ownership of these assets."'
https://themusic.com.au/news/australian-crawl-co-founders-launch-trademark-dispute-against-former-member/V3HlS0pNTE8/19-03-26
#Australiancrawl #auslaw #trademark

Australia is escalating its fight against the booming illicit tobacco and vape trade with tougher penalties, new offences and expanded police powers.

States and territories are being pushed to shut illegal shopfronts as authorities also target online sales and nicotine pouches. Mr Hill singled out South Australia and Queensland as leading the way with tougher laws and investment in enforcement: 'They are demonstrating that where enforcement occurs in 100 per cent of a geographic area, then retailers see legal trade return rapidly to expected levels.'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/tobacco-crime-law-changes-for-illegal-vape-cigarette-market/106469048

Further details of the illicit market crackdown are expected to be unveiled when parliament resumes next week. #auspol #auslaw #smoking #tobacco #enforcement

Crocodile Hunter Cultural Controversy
'When a massive Queensland crocodile known as Old Faithful was transferred to Australia Zoo last November, the Irwin-owned park announced it was proud to become the animal's "forever home", and the state government welcomed the move as a public safety success story.

But an ABC 7.30 investigation has raised questions about the conduct of the state's crocodile catchers, including how the decision was made to capture the culturally significant animal and whether they followed their own laws.

Traditional owners in Cape York, who should have been consulted about his removal, maintain Old Faithful's capture was a "wrongful arrest" carried out by "cowboys".

Chief among their concerns are allegations that they were misled and excluded from key decisions affecting culture and Country. So much so that lawyers from the Environmental Defenders Office are considering lodging a human rights complaint.'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/crocodile-cowboys-indigenous-rights-and-australia-zoo/106464376

#IndigenousIP #biodiversity #humanrights #Qldpol #auslaw #Queensland #crocodile 🐊

The balancing act of investigations - for the sake of public administration/public policy case study, and for the sake of justice - has always been a difficult act.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/why-robodebt-bureaucrats-have-evaded-prosecution/106468572

… frankly, I’d say the ‘corrupt’ public servants are just as much victims as they are offenders.
Australia’s public servants work in a government system where the ‘separation’ between public service and parliament is very blurred.
Politicians are able to make veiled threats to pressure public servants into action.

The other thing that needs to be kept in mind is that ‘corruption’ is a very broad term that covers all actions and behaviours which are ‘not within the expectations of the public service’.
So, the big question is ‘What are a forms of corruption that is also criminal?’
An obvious line of questioning would be ‘What political/material gain or benefit did the offenders receive?’

#AusPol #AusLaw #Robodebt

ACCR has appealed the decision of Justice Markovic in the case of ACCR v Santos Ltd.

https://www.accr.org.au/news/accr-to-appeal-federal-court-judgment/

Commenting on ACCR’s decision to appeal, Brynn O’Brien, Co-CEO of ACCR said:

'This case concerns fundamental legal standards that apply to all businesses in Australia responding to climate change, and which are central to the integrity of market disclosures. The legal issues raised in the judgment warrant clarification by an appellate court.

'In our view, the judgment sets the bar for corporate communication about climate commitments well below market and investor expectations. We think it increases the burden on investors to interrogate the full context in which claims are made, and the assumptions, uncertainties, and emerging technologies that may underpin them.

'Businesses doing hard, evidence-driven work in the energy transition need clear guidance on the standards governing climate disclosures.'

#greenwashing #corporationslaw #consumerlaw #auspol #auslaw