The High Court has unanimously allowed an appeal from the Full Federal Court on the validity of a gene patent. The patent relates to a particular DNA or RNA sequence named BRCA1 that has been isolated (or removed) from its ordinary cellular environment and is an indicator of breast or ovarian cancer. Dismissing the appeal from the trial judge’s decision, the Full Federal Continue reading →

The High Court has decided a special case on whether various provisions of the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosure Act 1981 (NSW) contravene the implied freedom of political communication, raised in relation to a hearing before the Independent Commission against Corruption in New South Wales. The second defendant (ICAC) subjected McCloy to a compulsory Continue reading →

The High Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal of the Northern Territory on the tort of negligence in the context of asbestos exposure and statute barring. Zabic was exposed to asbestos dust during three years of working for Alcan, and was recently diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma. Zabic claimed common law damages Continue reading →