Legal Alerts

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

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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.

Family - Family Law Amendment Act 2023 (Cth) - Updated Legal Aid WA resources

Tue, 09 Apr 2024

Legal Aid WA has updated a number of family law resources to incorporate the amendments being introduced by the Family Law Amendment Act 2023 (Cth). The amendments will commence on 6 May 2024 and will apply to cases where parties were married. The updated webpages, infosheets and fact sheets are available for the public and include information about the laws for both de facto and married parties.

Changes to the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse

Wed, 03 Apr 2024

Changes to the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 that will soon come into operation will increase access to redress and enhance choice for survivors.

New telecommunications financial hardship industry standard

Tue, 02 Apr 2024

New industry rules improve protections for telecommunications customers experiencing financial hardship.

Abortion Legislation Reform Act

Wed, 27 Mar 2024

The substantive provisions of the Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023 (WA) (the Act) come into operation on 27 March 2024.

Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2024 - introduced 22 February 2024

Mon, 26 Feb 2024

This Bill amends the Criminal Code (WA) by creating a new offence of assault on retail workers and by providing imprisonment as an option for offences of stealing property worth $1,000 or less if requisite prior offending exists.

District Court Notice to Practitioners - 'Objections' to the Production of Subpoenaed Documents (CPC 4.6)

Tue, 20 Feb 2024

Circular to Practitioners - Civil (CPC) 4 Subpoenas and Inspection was amended and reissued on 16 February 2024.

Criminal Investigation Amendment (Protection of Law Enforcement Animals) Bill 2023

Tue, 13 Feb 2024

This Bill introduces new offences into the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 of assaulting, injuring or killing a law enforcement animal.

Banned Drinkers Register legislation in force

Fri, 09 Feb 2024

The Liquor Control Amendment (Banned Drinkers Register) Act 2023 commenced on 14 December 2023.

District Court -Notice to Practitioners - Registrars' Powers to Approve Compromised Actions - Updated Direction.

Tue, 06 Feb 2024

The District Court has today issued a new Notice to Practitioners - Registrars' Powers to Approve Compromised Actions - Updated Direction.

District Court - Notice to Practitioners-Subpoenas in Civil Actions - Rules Changes

Mon, 29 Jan 2024

The District Court of WA District Court has issued a new Notice to Practitioners -Subpoenas in Civil Actions - Rules Changes.

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.