On 13 March 2019, the High Court handed down its first decision on native title compensation in ‘Timber Creek’ [2019] HCA 7 (Timber Creek). The High Court’s decision is a measured reflection of the need for Australian law to evolve in a manner that acknowledges, recognises and accommodates the diversity and individuality of native title … Read more
The last few months have seen significant changes to mining regulations in various African states, giving rise to a concern that a regional trend of resource nationalism may be (re-)emerging. Read more
The Argentina government is working on a bill to establish a federal mining agreement to harmonise all existing legislation across the different provinces and with the federal government. After a year of intensive negotiations with the different provinces, the Argentine government is finalising details of a plan to relaunch mining nationwide. The government expects to … Read more
Two EU Directives were passed in 2013 which mandate annual reports on payments to governments by companies in the extractive industries which are incorporated or listed in the European Union. The UK government has issued its response paper following its consultation on implementing the provisions of the Accounting Directive. It sets out how those aspects … Read more
The provisions of the Sustainable Planning (Infrastructure Charges) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (Qld) (Amendment Act) which amended the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (Qld) (SPA) and the South-East Queensland (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009 (SEQ Water Act) commenced on 4 July 2014 implementing amendments to the infrastructure charging provisions in the SPA and … Read more
On 15 July 2014, the High Court in London handed down a further judgment in the ongoing dispute between Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and U&M Mining Zambia Ltd (U&M). KCM owns a number of mines on the Zambian copper belt. It is a Zambian company majority owned by Vendanta Resources Plc, which is listed on … Read more
On Wednesday, 21 May, the Queensland Government introduced the Building and Construction Industry Payments Amendment Bill 2014 (Qld) (Bill) to amend the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (Qld) (Act) and referred it to an undisclosed Parliamentary Committee for review. The Bill seeks to amend the Act to address the significant issues raised by … Read more
On 11 February 2014, the Federal Government released the Productivity Commission’s (PC) Final Report into the National Access Regime (Regime). In large part, the Final Report adopted the PC’s key recommendations set out in its Draft Report released in May 2013. While the PC concluded that the current Regime should be retained, it did recommend … Read more
On Monday 10 February 2014 a Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was announced. The terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption are expressed very broadly. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the inquiry will be able to go wherever the evidence leads it. Companies and … Read more
