This article builds a taxonomy of the different functions performed by the term ‘harmonisation’ in contemporary policy debates. Four broad functions or domains of use are identified – political, policy, process and program – within each of which there are multiple different uses. Based...

Australia’s harmonised occupational health and safety (OHS) regulatory regime was scheduled to commence 1 January 2012. Presently, however, only seven (out of nine) jurisdictions have enacted harmonised laws, most with differences. That the harmonisation initiative has not (yet) delivered on...

OHS harmonisation requires more than just uniform laws; it also requires that those laws are administered and enforced consistently across jurisdictions. This article examines the suite of reforms designed to deliver that consistent regulatory experience (known as the ‘Regulators Harmonisation...

Occupational health and safety (OHS) harmonisation in Australia is on a precipice. While noting that several forces have operated to bring about this situation (including traditional federal/state tensions compounded by the election in a number of States of Conservative governments), this...

A growing body of research establishes that a regulator’s legitimacy is important to its ability to discharge its regulatory responsibilities, and that regulatory compliance can depend significantly on people’s perception of the legitimacy of the regulatory regime and the regulators within...

This article examines the application of New Zealand and Australian work health and safety (‘WHS’) laws to professional sport. After briefly discussing the origins and structure of both countries’ WHS laws, the article explains how statutory WHS duties operate for the benefit of workers...

This paper examines the public interest underpinning Australian and German media diversity regulation. It finds notwithstanding different historical and constitutional origins, both counties regulation today espouses similar public interest rationales but increasingly is being shaped by the...

This article examines the duties and responsibilities owed by persons involved with organising and staging major sporting events under Australian workplace health and safety (WHS) laws. While WHS laws focus primarily on the health and safety of workers, they also have a very broad public safety...

This article examines an issue of fundamental importance to both business and government: the nature of Australian federalism. Federalism in Australia is a concept under attack with pejorative labels such as 'dysfunctional', 'inefficient', 'coercive' and 'opportunistic' increasingly being used...

Modern, commercial fantasy sports came to Australia in 2001. It has since grown into a significant and accepted part of the Australian sporting and gambling landscape. Fantasy sports’ mainstreaming has been relatively uncontroversial. It has found its place within Australia’s regulatory...