Labor wants to push out lawyers with a ban on non-competes.

PwC reaches multimillion-dollar settlement in tax leak.

Slater & Gordon refers employee suspect to police.

A throwaway line the Treasurer’s budget speech last night has major consequences. According the the Budget Papers, Labor will ban non-compete clauses for nearly 3 million workers – those earning less than the high-income threshold (currently $175k). The Gov also wants to remove arrangements that cap workers pay, as well as place a ban ‘no-poach’ deals where companies agree not to target each other’s staff. Labor wants lawyers out of the equation: “People shouldn’t need to hire a lawyer to take the next step in their career,” Chalmers told Parliament: AFR

Employers are losing the WFH debate. A recent decision highlights the importance of carefully considering your response and reasoning when dealing with employee requests for flexible working conditions. The Fair Work Commission sided an employee after his flexible work request to accommodate parenting was denied without adequate justification. Employees have a right to request a change to their work conditions. There is a clear need to document and tailor responses to the individual request – generic rejections won’t cut it.

OAIC’s messaging app warning. The OAIC has put government agencies on notice after finding widespread use of messaging apps like Signal without adequate FOI, privacy, or other safeguards. Only 8 of 16 agencies using such apps had proper policies. Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd warned disappearing messages still count as official records and must be preserved.

Slater and Gordon have referred a former employee to Victoria Police over the “premeditated and carefully planned” email leak that exposed pay and bonus data for 900+ staff. In the first major update since the story broke, Slater and Gordon said that the culprit sent identical emails in 10 different batches to circumvent the firm’s email restrictions on the number of emails that can be sent at once. The firm insists CPO Mari Ruiz-Matthyssen did not send it: AFR, The Australian

Andrew Hynd, one of Brisbane’s top IPTC lawyers, joins HopgoodGanim as partner, bringing 20+ years of experience in tech, data, and procurement. He’s joined by SA Jean Lukin from Holding Redlich who specialises in advising government entities. The move follows HopgoodGanim’s recent real estate practice acquisition from Corrs, as the firm continues its strategic expansion.

Sonia Minutillo has been appointed as NSW’s Privacy Commissioner, continuing her acting role since August 2023. Minutillo will oversee compliance with some of Australia’s most prevalent issues: privacy laws and manage data breach investigations: Australasian Lawyer

PwC has quietly reached a multimillion dollar settlement with former partner Paul McNab, the fourth accused in the tax leaks saga to receive a payout. McNab, once a senior tax partner, sued for access to a $140k-a-year retirement plan cut off after PwC named him in the scandal. The settlement avoids a messy trial over PwC’s opaque partner policies: AFR

Chalmers' pre-election budget just dropped. Here’s who came out on top and who’s not so lucky:

Winners:

Losers:

Well, Dutton reckons there are more losers with this “cruel hoax” of a budget that is clearly an “electric bribe.” Check out the full list here, here, or here: AFR, ABC, Bloomberg

Trump's law firm blacklist is having a domino effect. A high-level Republican Senate staffer sent an email urging colleagues to think twice before helping clients of Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie, firms Trump has branded anti-MAGA. If you're the clients of this firm, which include the likes of Google, Meta, and Apple, you're thinking "Do I really want to use these firms? That could make it harder to work with the White House”: Politico

The $14bn James Hardie-Azek merger is copping it from all angles—US law firms including Johnson Fistel, Wohl & Fruchter, and Monteverde & Associates are threatening to sue the Azek board, claiming the 37% premium undervalues Azek. Meanwhile, Aussie brokers say Hardie is overpaying, with shares down 20% in two days. CEO Aaron Erter insists it’s a long-term growth play: AFR.

James Hardie’s US shift has also sparked speculation Woodside could be next, as more Aussie-listed giants eye a primary listing in America. With 75% of revenue from the US, the Azek deal echoes Amcor’s recent $13bn move on US Berry Global. Now eyes are on Woodside, amid chatter of US takeover interest from Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP: The Australian, Bloomberg

Pressure mounts on the Gold Road board as active insto investors consider upping stakes to push the board to accept a $3.3bn takeover by Gold Fields. But the latest developments on the takeover talks indicate the relationship has broken down: The Australian

Winc, Australia's and New Zealand's largest B2B office supplies player, is up for sale, with Platinum Equity mandating Goldman Sachs and Gresham Partners to run the auction. The business generated nearly $1bn in revenue in 2024, with a 38% gross margin and $57m EBITDA, making it more profitable than its rivals: AFR

WA’s resources sector injected a record $150bn into the national economy in FY24, including $19.8bn in wages and $50bn in taxes and royalties—enough to nearly fund Medicare or pay all WA teachers, nurses, doctors and police. But CME says the tide’s turning fast, with mounting project closures amid rising costs: Mining Weekly

Shareholder advisory firm Glass Lewis sounds alarm on CEO succession at Santos, warning the board has no clear plan while CEO Kevin Gallagher’s $6m incentive payment is set to expire soon. After 9 years in the top job, Gallagher’s internal bench has thinned, with key execs like Brett Woods and Jane Norman walking out the door: AFR

ING Australia’s profit slid 19% to $532m as the bank pours cash into a core tech overhaul and retail app rebuild. CEO Melanie Evans said the investment affected earnings but sets ING up for long-term growth: The Australian

Aussie Home Loans franchisees are preparing to lodge a complaint with the ACCC, accusing parent company Lendi Group of bullying and coercive tactics, including threats of termination and surprise commission cuts: AFR

Endeavour Group, the owner of Dan Murphys, BWS and hundreds of pubs, is undertaking a major review, which could lead to its breakup… The review will explore strategic options, including asset sales or integration, as the company struggles with sluggish alcohol sales, leadership instability and a slashing share price: AFR

Queensland builders like Besix Watpac and Hutchies welcomed the final venue plan for the Brisbane Olympics, but warned that with the original 11-year runway shrinking to 7 years, there's very little room for delays: AFR

Apple turns up the volume on hearing aids, with a software upgrade that transforms AirPods Pro 2 into clinical-grade hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. The upgrade, which includes a hearing test feature, aims to reduce stigma around hearing aids and increase awareness of hearing loss, potentially improving access to treatment: AFR

Alibaba chair Joe Tsai says hiring is back on, emboldened by President Xi’s February meeting with entrepreneurs and the rise of open-source AI startup DeepSeek. On the US side of things, Tsai is concerned about the start of an AI bubble in the US as there’s talk of US$500bn investment in in AI: Reuters