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When is it unfair for an employee to be dismissed for breaching a COVID-19 vaccination policy?
The Industrial Relations Commission has recently reviewed a local council’s decision to dismiss an employee for breaching Council’s policy of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. In Blackwood v Northern Beaches Council [2022] NSWIRComm 1052, Mr Blackwood filed an application against Council for terminating his…
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OLG seeks consultation to finalise new laws on unattended property
On 13 July 2022, the Office of Local Government (‘OLG‘) issued Circular No. 22-19 to commence the consultation process on preferred options for regulations to support the new Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 (NSW) (‘PSUP Act‘), which are contained…
Tendering Exemption Threshold Increases for Natural Disaster Recovery
The Local Government (General) Amendment Regulation 2022 (NSW) (Amendment Reg) commenced on 10 June 2022. It inserts a new section 170A into the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW) (LG Reg). The new section increases the tendering exemption threshold for…
ICAC Report: Investigation into the Former NSW Roads and Maritime Services
On 20 May 2022, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (‘ICAC‘) released its report on the investigation (‘Operation Ember‘) into the awarding of contracts by employees of the former NSW Roads and Maritime Services (‘RMS‘), which is now part of Transport…
OLG Circular: Proposed Amendments to the Standard Contract of Employment for Local Council General Managers
On 17 May 2022, the Office of Local Government (‘OLG‘) issued Circular No. 22-12 (‘Circular‘) in response to recommendations made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (‘ICAC‘) as a result of its investigation of the former Canterbury City Council (‘Operation…
OLG releases Model Social Media and Model Councillor and Staff Interaction policies
On 7 April 2022, the Office of Local Government released the following two new model policies for local councils in New South Wales: Model Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy (CSI Policy) Model Social Media Policy (Social Media Policy) These two policies…
Revised Public-Private Partnership Guidelines Published by NSW OLG
On 7 March 2022, the Office of Local Government (‘OLG‘) released a new circular to councils regarding two new guidelines: the Public-Private Partnerships Guidelines (‘PPP Guidelines‘) and the Formation of Corporations and Entities (Section 358) Guideline. Although some interrelationship between two…
Update – New Planning Minister and Planning Secretary for New South Wales
On 20 December 2021, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet revealed the second Perrottet ministry for the State government. The details of the updated cabinet have been published in a Government Gazette which can be accessed here. This major cabinet reshuffle marks…
LEC Upholds IPC Approval of Narrabri Gas Project as Climate Change Litigation Takes Aim at Gas
Debate about the transition away from fossil fuels has recently focused in on plans for increased gas production, with Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project (Project) being a key feature of the NSW Government’s plans for the future of gas production in…
New Regulations for Infrastructure Contributions Released for Public Consultation
On 28 October 2021, the NSW Government released several documents as part of the infrastructure contributions reform package for public consultation. These documents include: Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure Contributions) Regulation 2021 (‘Amendment Regulation‘). Environmental Planning and Assessment (Local…
Clinging to Coal: KEPCO Bylong appeals to High Court after Third Project Refusal
KEPCO Bylong Australia Pty Ltd (KEPCO) will seek special leave to appeal to the High Court following the third refusal of the Bylong Coal Project by the NSW Court of Appeal last month. In this blog, we look at the…
Discussion Paper on the Local Government Tendering Regulation Review
Earlier this month, the Office of Local Government published a discussion paper titled ‘Local Government Tendering Regulation Review‘ (‘Discussion Paper‘) concerning the tendering provisions in Part 7 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (‘Regulation‘). The Discussion Paper proposes amendments to…