By Ante Golem, Jonathan Tong and Libby Plajzer
In our Legal Briefing dated 26 August 2022 (Legal Briefing), we reported that the Civil Procedure (Representative Proceedings) Bill 2021 (Bill) was currently before the Legislative Council Western Australia for its second reading speech. On 31 August 2022, the Bill passed through the Legislative Council. Consequently, Western Australia will now become the fifth Australian state with a state-based legislative class action regime. Continue reading
By Laura Bowlt and Kate Bower
Laura and Kate discuss Stage 1 of the new Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (SOPA) (WA), as well as providing some practical tips on ensuring your contracts are SOPA ready, and the importance of responding to payment claims on time. The first stage of SOPA brings in shorter payment timeframes, as well as bringing in measures to improve fairness in contracting and a new rapid adjudication system. They explain the gradual implementation of SOPA, and why mining and energy companies who may have been excluded from the Construction Contracts Act 2004 (WA) should consider whether new works will be captured by SOPA.
