Legal Alerts

This section features alerts about changes to criminal, civil and family law, with a focus on legislative changes.

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Police Legislation Amendment Bill

Thu, 08 Aug 2024

This Bill provides powers to police to scan for knives in certain areas without a warrant or reasonable suspicion, creates new offences related to edged weapons and facilitates the giving of move on orders through the use of verbal directions.

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 Commencement Proclamation (No. 2) 2024

Tue, 16 Jul 2024

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 Commencement Proclamation (No. 2) 2024 sets out the commencement date of the 29 July 2024 for specific provisions of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 (Amendment Act)

Next set of tenancy reforms to start 29 July 2024

Wed, 10 Jul 2024

The next set of tenancy reforms from the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 are to commence on 29 July 2024.

Family Violence Legislation Reform Bill 2024 introduced

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced into State Parliament on 19 June 2024.

Criminal Code Amendment Act 2024 - In force 1 July 2024

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

This amending Act will introduce new offences of assault on retail workers and remove the lower summary conviction penalty under s426(4) for stealing $1,000 or less where there is specified repeated stealing.

How to find Legal Profession Uniform Law legislation for WA

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

All legislation applicable to WA under the uniform law scheme is now available from the legislation.wa.gov.au website.

Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition on Display or Performance of Nazi Symbols or Gestures) Bill 2024

Wed, 19 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced on 19 June 2024 and comes into force on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Commonwealth - Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Bill 2024 introduced

Thu, 13 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced on 5 June 2024 and amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

Firearms Bill 2024 - further amendments introduced

Thu, 13 Jun 2024

Amendments to the Firearms Bill 2024 in response to the Floreat murders have been introduced in Parliament.

Proposed consumer protections for Buy Now Pay Later

Tue, 11 Jun 2024

New consumer protection legislation for Buy Now Pay Later has been introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament.

Firearms Bill 2024 - progressing through Parliament

Wed, 29 May 2024

Overview of the Firearms Bill 2024 and the government firearms buy back scheme.

Western Australian Marine Amendment Act 2023 - most of remaining changes in force 2 May 2024

Thu, 23 May 2024

The changes to marine safety laws to include drug and alcohol offences when navigating vessels are now in force.

Road Traffic Legislation Amendment (Infringement Management Reform) Act 2024 - awaiting proclamation

Thu, 23 May 2024

This Act mainly amends the Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 in relation to the management of infringement notices for road law offences.

Proposed new knife laws for WA

Thu, 23 May 2024

New police powers to search for knives are set to be introduced in WA.

Proclamation of residential tenancy laws in WA about rent bidding and retaliatory action

Wed, 15 May 2024

Some provisions of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 come into operation on 16 May 2024. These include the provisions prohibiting rent bidding and those covering retaliatory action by the lessor.

Release of Practice Direction No. 1 of 2024 - applies from 6 May 2024

Mon, 06 May 2024

The Family Court of WA has issued Practice Direction No.1 of 2024 which applies from 6 May 2024. This Practice Direction includes notification of modified court forms, amendments to the Family Court Rules 2021, and attaches standard orders and proposed Terms of Reference as a guide to orders sought in applications for the appointment of a Single Expert Witness.

Family Court of WA statement - Changes to the Family Law Act and Family Court Act

Wed, 01 May 2024

The Family Court of WA has released a statement regarding the amendments to the Family Law Act (which applies to cases concerning children whose parents were, or are, married) which will commence on Monday, 6 May 2024.

Protection and care - new professions with a duty to report child sexual abuse

Wed, 01 May 2024

The Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA) has been amended to add psychologists and school counsellors to those professions with a duty to report child sexual abuse.

Residential tenancy reform in WA

Wed, 17 Apr 2024

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 (WA) has now been passed by parliament. This Act makes changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987.

Sentence Administration Amendment (Monitoring Equipment) Act 2023 - in force 27 March 2024

Wed, 17 Apr 2024

New offence of damaging monitoring equipment in way that impedes monitoring is now in force with increased penalties and rebuttable mandatory imprisonment.

Disclaimer

The information displayed on this page is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should see a lawyer. Legal Aid Western Australia aims to provide information that is accurate, however does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided on this page or incorporated into it by reference.