6-year class action withdrawn, members to receive $11m settlement

A class action lawsuit against Aveo has been dropped after almost six years of litigation, and the retirement juggernaut will now pay a $11 million “full and final” payment.

Six years after announcing the class action for the first time, Levitt Robinson has withdrawn the lawsuit and apologised for any pain it may have brought about.

After the class action lawsuit against Aveo for allegedly having unfair contract terms under a new strategy was filed in November 2017, hundreds of former residents of the retirement village showed interest in taking Aveo to court.

The settlement is subject to approval by the Federal Court.

ANZSCO Classifications Update

To better reflect the needs of stakeholders and reflect the modern labour market, ANZSCO is conducting a thorough assessment of its classification.

There will be a public consultation up to April 28, 2023.

Users of the categorization have the chance to offer feedback throughout this consultation process on professions that come under the chosen emphasis areas for each round of consultation.

Round 1 requests comments on the following professions:

• Accounting services
• Administrative services
• Aged care and disability services
• Childcare services
• Computer system and related services
• Education and training
• Financial and insurance services
• Library and other information services
• Management and related consulting services
• Market research and advertising services
• Scientific research services
• Statistical services
• Welfare and social assistance services

A list of occupations grouped by focus area is provided for reference.

Intercountry Adoptions

Although this relates to family law practice, the Explanatory Statement to this gives an excellent explanation of the conventions and bilateral agreements underlying Australia’s recognition of international adoptions. Individuals dealing with these types of situations may find this explanation helpful.

NSW judge confirmed as head of National Anti-Corruption Commission

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced the first appointments to the national integrity authority, with a Court of Appeal judge serving as its first commissioner. This judge oversaw the investigation into alleged ADF war crimes in Afghanistan.

Brereton J has been linked to the position with the new National Anti-Corruption Commission for more than a week. (NACC). A-G Dreyfus has now officially announced the five-year nomination.

By creating a strong, open, and independent National Anti-Corruption Commission in its first term, the government is fulfilling its promise to the Australian people to restore integrity, honesty, and accountability to government, according to the A-G.

In addition, A-G Dreyfus appointed agency head for the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Jaala Hinchcliffe as acting deputy commissioner, for up to 12 months or until a third substantive deputy commissioner can be appointed.

New class action filed against Medibank

The largest provider of private health insurance in Australia, Medibank, is about to face more legal action after a global law firm filed a shareholder lawsuit alleging that the company had violated continuous disclosure laws by allegedly failing to disclose flaws in its cybercrime defences.

A few months after one of the largest breaches of data protection in Australian history, Medibank (ASX: MPL) informed the market this afternoon that it had been served with class action proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Home builder Porter Davis in liquidation, stops all work

A major home builder in Victoria has gone out of business, halting work on 1700 projects in Victoria and Queensland and putting dozens of subcontractors in a precarious situation while liquidators look for new companies to take over the group’s contracts.

Grant Thornton was appointed as liquidators by Porter Davis Homes, which employees 470 people, on Friday after its effort to find a “white knight buyer” failed on Thursday evening. At a gathering held at the company’s offices on Friday at 9 a.m., employees were informed of the appointment.

Subcontractors working for Porter Davis Homes say they haven’t been paid for work done on the volume builder’s projects.