5 grants of special leave

Daily wrap  

• Ben Roberts-Smith loses final legal bid to overturn defamation ruling - ABC News
   

  • HCA results of applications for special leave to appeal, leave to appeal and removal - 4 Sept 2025
     

  • New battle looms for Ben Roberts-Smith after High Court rejects defamation appeal [Capital Brief paywall]

    Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his final appeal in a defamation battle. But his legal fights might not end there.
     

• Ben Roberts-Smith to fork out lump sum for legal bills after appeal bid rejected
   

  • Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (Costs) [2025] FCAFC 122
     

• Robodebt victims to get further $475 million compensation after class action settled - ABC News
   

• Prosecutors preparing to submit final sex charges against Jones [The Australian paywall]

  Prosecutors are finalising the criminal charges they will pursue against former radio star Alan Jones amid a series of last-minute meetings with his accusers.
   

• Convicted baby killer Keli Lane sues NSW government over prison sexual abuse scandal - ABC News
   

• Adrian Portelli pleads not guilty to illegal lotteries charges, blames trial on 'big miscommunication' - ABC News
   

• Seek alleges rival stole candidate data [The Australian paywall]

  A tech start-up branded itself the ‘Seek killer’ while allegedly raiding the job giant’s candidate database during joint-venture discussions, court documents claim.
   

• Labor and Coalition pass deportation laws set to make Nauru a ‘penal colony’ for Australia, critics say | Australian immigration and asylum | The Guardian
   

Like our newsletter?

Chances are, someone you know will too.

Editor’s picks

• S.R.L.A – Self Represented Litigants' Association | Australia
   

  • Self Represented Litigants Protection Act 2025 (Cth) – S.R.L.A
     

• When was the Commonwealth Constitution last amended and why? - Anne Twomey - YouTube

  This video is about the last successful referendums in Australia to amend the Commonwealth Constitution. Four such referendums were held together in 1977. Three of them were successful and the other failed, despite having bipartisan support. The video discusses how the referendum proposals came about, why the amendments were proposed, and why three passed but the other failed.
   

• Third HR exec resigns from law firm plagued by scandal [AFR paywall]

  Slater and Gordon chief people officer Julie Catanach was the unwitting addressee of an infamous all-staff email that led to the firm’s pay leak crisis.
   

• Some reflections on the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in insurance litigation - Justice Jackman (FCA)
   

• Yes, freedom of information laws need updating, but not like the government is proposing - Associate Professor Maria O’Sullivan
    

  • Transparency concerns over plans to tighten FOI laws | ABC NEWS - YouTube
     

• Big Wednesday [Capital Brief paywall]

  The High Court delivered a record-equalling five decisions on a single day this week, underlining how Chief Justice Stephen Gageler is running a tight ship.
   

• Meet the $100m AI startup that wants to kill the billable hour | Fortune
   

• Taiwan accuses China of breaching international law over drilling | Taiwan | The Guardian
   

• Trump asks US supreme court to overturn trade tariffs ruling | Trump tariffs | The Guardian
   

We’d love your help shaping Headnote.
 
Got feedback or ideas? Want to work with us?
 
Hit reply!