HN Macgregor, franchisor of the Harvey Norman Macgregor store in QLD, has paid a $15.6k penalty for allegedly signing a franchisee in July 2024 without first uploading key info to the Franchise Disclosure Register. The ACCC says that the skipped step breached the Franchising Code, which requires details like setup costs and ongoing payments to be published. With $7.1m in new funding, the ACCC is stepping up franchise code enforcement: ACCC

The NSW Court of Appeal has ruled that the Independent Planning Commission failed to consider the local climate change impacts of the Mount Pleasant coal mine’s 22-year life extension. While the IPC had looked at the mine’s contribution to global emissions, it didn’t assess how climate change could affect the mine’s specific locality, despite evidence that it was particularly vulnerable. The Court upheld that such localised impacts are a mandatory consideration under s 4.15(1)(b) of the EP&A Act. The consent stands for now, but the matter heads back to the Land and Environment Court to decide if it should remain valid, be modified, or sent back to the IPC: HSF

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled the three‑day agenda for his highly anticipated economic reform roundtable, aimed at tackling Australia’s sliding productivity. Day one will canvass international risks and opportunities, trade, skills, mobility, capital attraction and business investment, with RBA governor Michele Bullock giving a productivity trends briefing. Day two turns to productivity reform, including better regulation, faster approvals, and boosting competition across the federation. Day three covers budget sustainability with Treasury Secretary Jenny Wilkinson, followed by sessions on efficient, high‑quality government services and spending. The summit runs from 19-21 August.

Maddocks just turned 140, tracing its roots back to Queen Street, 1885. Since then, they’ve backed the City of Melbourne in the High Court, launched the Maddocks Women network, and advised on Wesfarmers' $776m Kidman buyout. Now 700+ strong across three capitals, Maddocks remains one of Australia’s largest independents. Check out the full history here.

Legal AI upstart Harvey has reached $100m in ARR, now used by 42 of the AmLaw 100 and over 500 clients in 54 countries. It’s a massive leap for a 3-year-old firm, backed by $600m in VC cash and supported by 350+ staff across 5 continents. With usage metrics spiking and LexisNexis integrations live, Harvey’s not slowing down: Artificial Lawyer

Jones Day has added James Hall as a partner in Brisbane, bolstering its Labour & Employment team with a specialist in OHS and industrial relations. Hall joins from Ashurst and is best known for acting on catastrophic mining incidents and statutory investigations: Jones Day

Not to make you feel inadequate, but UBS says 1 in 10 Aussies are now millionaires, thanks largely to the $10.5tn property market. That’s 1.9 million people, with another 400k expected by 2028. Australia now has the world’s second-highest median wealth ($US268k), but it’s tied up in real estate — only 10% is held in cash: ABC News

The Productivity Commission wants the corporate tax rate slashed to 20% for companies earning under $1bn, while big end of town keeps paying 30%. A new 5% net cashflow tax is also on the table to boost capex. If adopted, the plan could unlock $8bn in investment according to the Commission’s modelling: Capital Brief

The AFP has charged a Chinese national and Australian permanent resident with foreign interference, alleging she gathered information on a religious group targeted by Beijing. She was arrested on Saturday after raids at homes across Canberra. The case risks rekindling tensions between Australia and China: Bloomberg

HMC Capital: is raising up to $1bn for its reworked renewables fund after snapping up Neoen’s wind and battery assets from Brookfield. The fund is ditching hydrogen and biofuels to focus on storage and wind, with final investment calls expected in 12–24 months. It’s targeting returns of at least 15% gross equity: AFR

HSBC: is prepping a sale of its $40bn Australian retail loan book. NAB, ANZ and Westpac are watching, but it’s private credit giants like Apollo, Ares and Cerberus tipped to lead the bidding. A buyer could hand back the banking licence and run it as a non-bank lender: The Australian

BlueScope: is fronting an international consortium with POSCO, Nippon Steel and JSW to bid for the government-controlled Whyalla steelworks, pitching it as a future low‑carbon steel hub. The 1.2m‑tonne‑a‑year blast furnace sits near iron ore mines and SA’s wind and solar resources, with $1.5bn in state and federal subsidies on the table for a buyer: Bloomberg

Twiggy has quietly wiped Fortescue’s green hydrogen projects from its website, just weeks after axing its Gladstone electrolyser and agreeing to repay $50m in taxpayer funds. Other scrapped or stalled ventures include projects in Arizona, Texas, Canada, PNG, and Brazil: AFR

The Albo government has approved the $5bn Marinus Link undersea cable between Tasmania and Victoria, days after sealing a funding deal with both states. The 354km project is due by 2030, with the Feds holding 49%, Victoria 33%, and Tasmania 17%. Costs have blown out from $3.3bn, but Canberra says it’s key to cheaper, cleaner energy and will boost Tasmania’s export power potential: AFR

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is facing heat after insiders alleged it let junior staff, not ombudsmen, make thousands of final decisions to clear a growing claims backlog. AFCA denies cutting corners, but critics say it’s drifting from its post–banking royal commission promise of rigour and fairness: The Australian

Ex-trader uses ASIC’s files in ANZ dismissal fight. The former ANZ trader has obtained ASIC interviews and internal documents from its 2016 bank bill swap rate probe for his unfair dismissal case. Alexiou says he was a scapegoat for the $50m rate-rigging settlement. The files name ex-CEO Shayne Elliott and could feature when the case goes to trial in September.

A former Mad Mex employee has won a record $305k payout. The Federal Court found that her franchisee manager sexually harassed her, showing her porn and touching her thigh with sex toys. Justice Robert Bromwich slammed the manager’s defence and threats of defamation, calling parts of his argument "highly offensive" and "unsupported". Mad Mex has since cut ties with the franchisee: AFR

Endeavour Group may split its liquor retail and pub arms, as part of a full-blown strategic review ahead of Jayne Hrdlicka’s delayed CEO start. Chair Ari Mervis has quit after clashing with the board, leaving the group with no permanent CEO or chair. Analysts say the business is rudderless, with $425m profit forecast, down from $512m last year: AFR

Scott Farquhar says Australia can build data centres up to 50% cheaper than the US…. without nuclear. The Tech Council chair sees renewables and battery storage as faster, cheaper options, with demand from hyperscalers like Google and Microsoft creating a multi‑billion‑dollar opportunity if Australia moves quickly: The Australian

HSBC has launched an innovation banking arm in Australia, its first major bank division here dedicated to venture-backed companies. Led by Alan Watters, it offers tailored corporate banking and venture debt. And half of its $228m commitment is already deployed. Clients include unicorn Cover Genius, with HSBC touting Australia’s world-leading unicorns-per-dollar track record: Capital Brief