Things To Think About
First: underpayment and poor treatment of charity collectors, and the way in which they ought to be employed. Update: a class action has been launched against marketing giant Appco.
Second: how does wealth and socio-economic status impact the performance of regulators responding to misconduct? The LA Times makes an argument that, in the US, it can matter a great deal.
Third: Speigel paints a sorry portrait of Deutsche Bank, giving a scathing review of its cultural transformation over 20 years.
Finally: as I sit here in the library of the Melbourne Law School, I’m looking down at what was, a few days ago, the Corkman pub. It’s been demolished without permission, and the footpath is buzzing with angry activity; there are stern-looking CFMEU members posing for photographs, and, when I passed the temporary fencing, I saw the words ‘$1 million penalty not enough’ scrawled across it. So, what’s the offence, and what’s the maximum penalty? I doubt very much a $1M fine will be a sentencing possibility, and I hope the case calls into question the way that maximum penalties for corporations are set in legislation. I can’t help but contrast the agitation around this blatant disrespect for heritage overlay with the radio silence around the case Ashurst defended in August, in which Charbon Coal Pty Ltd, in contravention of its environmental approval, disturbed an Indigenous heritage artefact, and five possible artefacts, considered to have high cultural value. Those artefacts can no longer be located. That company was fined $175,000 plus costs.
Law & Policy Updates
The ACCC is “advocating strongly” for changes to the Horticulture Code, citing serious competition and fair trading issues in its report, Perspectives in Horticulture and Viticulture. In related news, the ACCC has released an interim report on its cattle and beef markets study and is seeking feedback.
Event Calendar
Comments on the ACCC’s retail car market study are due 14 November 2016.