For the first time under Secure Jobs, Better Pay, the FWC has granted a voting request order, letting Sydney Trains and NSW Trains hold an employee vote on a proposed multi-enterprise agreement without full union sign-off. Normally, a vote can only proceed with written agreement from all union bargaining reps. When the ETU withheld consent, the employers turned to the new s 240B mechanism. The Full Bench found the ETU’s refusal objectively unreasonable, citing all other unions agreeing to the vote and the ETU’s last-minute and minor objections. The FWC also made clear: the test isn’t whether the Commission thinks a vote is fair, but whether refusing it would undermine good faith bargaining going forward. It's a sign the Commission is willing to back votes where progress is being derailed by a single holdout: Allens

The NSW Supreme Court has ordered One Lake Macquarie (in liq) to provide security for costs in its case against Athena Rose Capital. OLM argued the order would stifle the claim, but failed to show evidence that those behind or may benefit from the litigation didn’t have the capacity or the effort to secure funding. The Court said bare assertions weren’t enough.

The Federal Government is reviewing national gas market rules to check if they still stack up in a net-zero world. Announced 30 June 2025, the review will assess the Gas Market Code, the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism, and LNG export agreements. The goal is to assess whether current policies are still effective and see if there’s any opp to streamline regulations. It comes amid ACCC warnings of east coast gas shortfalls from 2028. Submissions close 15 August 2025.

Promotions are up, and laterals are booming. Corrs led with 13 new partners, while KWM made just 4 internal promotions but added 12 laterals, including big names from Corrs, Clayton Utz and the ACCC. Ashurst tapped out at 3 promotions, but snapped up Tony Damian (ex-HSF) in a $7.5m headline hire. We unpacked how Australia’s top firms are reshaping their partnerships. Read the full breakdown here.

PwC’s AI chief says the firm cut prices on some services after clients asked for a share of the AI-driven time savings. But the discounts have now “plateaued” as the focus shifts from efficiency to “value creation”. PwC claims AI has boosted system integration productivity by ~30%, but don't be equal cost savings to flow the clients’ way: AFR

HSF Kramer has bumped its London NQ salaries to £145k (A$300k), leapfrogging Ashurst, Hogan Lovells and Macfarlanes, and inching closer to the Magic Circle’s £150k (A$311k). The move follows Ashurst’s own £15k (A$31k) hike in June, showing the London salary war is very much still on. Let’s pray that it trickles down to Down Under: fnLondon

Dentons has poached Helene Lee and her employment team of three from Deloitte Legal, boosting its Melbourne practice. The hire includes Angela Cartwright, Charlie Phipps, and Bridget Cook, with Dentons touting Lee’s deep IR and litigation creds: Lawyers Weekly

It’s no Glastonbury line-up, but ASIC has appointed its panel to probe fellow regulator ASX, with Rob Whitfield, Christine Holman and Guy Debelle appointed to lead the inquiry. The trio brings boardroom, regulatory and market clout, some might say. A public report is due March 2026, with ASIC flagging potential action if gaps in ASX’s governance or risk management are found.

Danish women now face military conscription, joining 18-year-old men in a lottery for 11 months of service. Previously voluntary, the move brings Denmark in line with Sweden and Norway, amid rising NATO pressure and security fears. Defence spending is jumping by $5.9bn. Volunteers still go first, but by 2033, 6,500 Danes a year will be in uniform, gender aside: BBC

Qantas has confirmed a major data breach via a third-party call centre, likely compromising records of 6 million customers, including names, contact details and frequent flyer numbers. No credit card or passport data was stolen, but experts warn of ID fraud and password reset risks: ABC

Kinterra: is tipped to win the takeover brawl for New World Resources, matching CAML’s 6.2c bid and lodging a Takeovers Panel challenge. Kinterra alleges New World and CAML colluded to frustrate the auction, failing to terminate CAML’s $10m placement despite a rival proposal and offers of alternative funding. It also claims CAML breached insider trading, market manipulation and misleading conduct laws. Allens is advising Kinterra, Hamilton Locke for New World and Clayton Utz is repping CAML: The Australian

Figma’s: NYSE IPO is set to be one of 2025’s biggest, aiming to raise US$1.5bn off the back of US$800m revenue. The move heaps pressure on rival Canva, still sitting on the IPO sidelines. Canva’s been “IPO-ready” for years and recently restructured in Delaware, fuelling speculation a US float could be around the corner: AFR

KKR: is buying ProTen from Aware Super, snapping up one of Australia’s biggest poultry infrastructure players. The deal ends Aware’s 6-year run, during which it quadrupled ProTen’s property portfolio. With 700+ sheds across 60 farms, ProTen powers the chicken supply chain: Businesswire

Domino’s: share price has cratered 42% this year, prompting chatter of a Coca-Cola Amatil-style buyout, with Domino’s US or another global franchisee tipped as potential suitors. The pizza giant is in flux: CEO Mark van Dyck is out, Jack Cowin is stepping in, and analysts are split on whether a turnaround or takeover is more likely: The Australian

Glencore says it may shut its Mount Isa smelter and Townsville refinery within weeks, warning high costs and China’s oversupply have pushed Aussie refineries to the brink. The miner is reportedly losing $30m a month and wants government assistance, citing market precs like Tomago and Whyalla. 17k jobs hang in the balance, with crunch talks set for next Monday: The Australian

Copper has hit a three-month high, rising 12% this half on the back of tight supply on the London Metals Exchange and whispers of a US–China trade thaw. Inventories have plunged 65%, spot premiums are surging, and Goldman’s tipping US$10k/t by August: Mining.com

ANZ has called in McKinsey to dig into its culture and risk controls after APRA hit it with a $250m capital penalty in April. The probe will trace the behavioural failings flagged in a previous review. We’re talking dodgy leadership and alcohol misuse, as new CEO Nuno Matos makes fixing risk management a top priority: AFR

Treasury’s planning a major shake-up, weighing whether to give ASIC power to punish audit firms directly, or shift regulation to a new Financial Reporting Council. The move follows PwC’s tax leak scandal, with critics like Graeme Samuel calling for “big stick” penalties. ASIC’s already underfunded, but Treasury’s making clear: firm-wide accountability is coming: AFR

Brookfield pulled in $132m in dividends from WA’s freight rail network last year, while the WA govt gears up to claw back the 5500km network, decades before the lease ends in 2049. With management fees also rising, farmers and pollies say it’s time for local control to unlock grain and mining development in the south-west: AFR

Dexus is facing some turbulence. It has frozen redemptions on its $1.5bn Healthcare Property Fund, citing valuation uncertainty linked to delays at Adelaide’s Australian Bragg Centre. The fund is also suing tenant SAHMRI over a lease issue. And like just an infomercial —wait, there’s more. It’s still locked in a $14bn legal stoush over airport stakes with IFM and the Future Fund, with court dates now pushed to November: The Australian

Microsoft is cutting nearly 4% of its global workforce. That’s roughly 9,000 jobs, as it looks to rein in costs amid its US$80bn AI infrastructure splurge. It's not alone: Meta, Alphabet and Amazon are all swinging the axe while chasing AI dominance. Tech’s AI pivot isn’t coming cheap: Reuters

Grow Inc, the super admin tech startup backed by AirTree, CitiBank and the ASX, is hunting $50m in fresh capital via Highbury Partnership. The startup builds software for supers like HESTA and Vanguard Super. And it’s nearing profitability, chasing 7% market share, and touting $60m revenue. With Link and Mercer on the ropes, Grow’s got a runway: AFR