Public Sector and Education

Case Alerts

Substantial changes on the horizon for Owners Corporation/Strata regulation in Victoria

By: Andrew Brennan, James Kefford and Allana McGrath Background The Victorian Government recently released its response to the Expert Panel Statutory Review of the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic) (OC Act). The review and response come at a time when the importance of the owners corporation sector is rapidly increasing. Around one in five Victorians […]

By : Joshua Weiler Jun 19, 2026 Comments Off

WK News

Patrick Thompson: Meet the Partner trusted to handle Government’s most sensitive claims

We recently caught up with Patrick Thompson, Partner at Wotton Kearney, to learn more about his story and what drives his work. Pat has built a career at the intersection of public sector law and complex claims management, representing Government agencies through matters that are rarely simple – from coronial inquests and abuse claims to […]

By : Joshua Weiler May 18, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

‘So unreasonable’: Supreme Court of Queensland confirms scope of s 36 protection

By: Cassandra Wills and Taylah Graham Dennison v Brisbane City Council [2026] QSC 83 The Supreme Court of Queensland has confirmed the significant protection afforded to public authorities under s 36 of the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) (CLA), dismissing a claim against Brisbane City Council (BCC) notwithstanding findings that it would otherwise have been […]

By : Joshua Weiler May 13, 2026 Comments Off

Thought Leadership

Class Actions in Focus: Defining Decisions in 2025 and Trends to Watch

Over 1,000 class actions filed, $1.5 billion in settlements, and a landmark Robodebt settlement that made history. 2025 was a milestone year for class actions in Australia, and 2026 is shaping up to be just as consequential. Our class actions experts unpack some key developments and trend themes in their latest article – Class Actions […]

By : Joshua Weiler Mar 31, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Court of Appeal finds trusts are criminally liable under HSWA: What are the implications for insurers?

By: Misha Heneghan, Richie Flinn, Neil Beadle, Matt Hutcheson and the WK Statutory Liability team. RH and JY Trust v WorkSafe New Zealand [2026] NZCA 12 The Court of Appeal has, by majority found that a trust, distinct from the individual trustees, can be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 24, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

High Court expands non-delegable duties in landmark child abuse decision

By: Meisha Tjiong, Cindy Lim and William Yeo AA v the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle This morning the High Court of Australia delivered a significant judgment expanding the principles of non-delegable duties and having wide-ranging impact for child abuse claims. Background AA commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW seeking damages from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Diocese) arising from […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 11, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Costs consequences of sensible offers and the limits of post-verdict challenges

By: Richard Leder, Michelle Rich and Rhyse Collins Dougan v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2025] VCC 1663 At a glance On 17 November 2025, Her Honour Judge Bourke of the County Court of Victoria delivered her judgment in Dougan v Trustees of the Marist Brothers [2025] VCC 1663, confirming that defendants who make sensible […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 11, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Protecting Commonwealth Workers: The Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Scheme

By: Kirsty Easdale and Chelsea Leet At a glance From 6 May 2026, Commonwealth agencies can apply directly to Courts for workplace protection orders to protect workers from personal violence connected to their duties, removing the need for staff to seek state-based orders themselves. The scheme has broad application (including against members of the public […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 5, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Queensland Court of Appeal clarifies limits of vicarious liability for ancillary school staff

By: Paul Spezza, Cassandra Wills, Dominique Fordyce, Ashley Shuttleworth and Ellen Bobbermien BYM v The Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane trading as Brisbane Catholic Education [2026] QCA 6 At a glance The Court of Appeal of Queensland has provided further clarification on when an employer will be vicariously liable […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 4, 2026 Comments Off

Thought Leadership

Federal or State? Understanding the Powers and Limits of Royal Commissions

By: Georgie Austin, Clare McNamara and Zoe Jones At a glance On 8 January 2026, the Governor-General issued draft Letters Patent establishing a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Commission has been tasked with addressing issues set out in its Terms of Reference, which are wide-ranging and encompass not only the terror event itself, […]

By : Joshua Weiler Jan 22, 2026 Comments Off

Search