Australia: Transport

The Supreme Court of NSW heard arguments as to whether a defendant’s insurer could be joined to a nervous shock proceeding and considered whether PTSD could be classed as a 'bodily injury' under the relevant insurance policy.

More than fifty years after humans last travelled beyond low Earth orbit, NASA’s Artemis II mission has marked a defining moment in space exploration. Artemis II sent four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the Moon, testing spacecraft systems, communications and operational readiness for future lunar landings and, ultimately, missions to Mars.

The Trump administration's tariff policies have created unprecedented uncertainty for Australia's aviation and tourism sectors, with implications ranging from Supreme Court challenges to proposed forced labour investigations.

Our monthly ESG bulletin provides a targeted snapshot of key developments we see as reflecting the “must know” trends in the Australian market and, where relevant, the international market.

The High Court of Australia has handed down judgment in the much-anticipated decision of CSL Australia Pty Ltd v Tasmanian Ports Corporation Pty Ltd [2026] HCA 15 (The Goliath). It has unanimously dismissed CSL Australia Pty Ltd’s appeal. As such, under Australian law, a shipowner cannot limit its liability for wreck removal expenses under the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976.

The Fair Work Commission has issued an emergency road transport contractual chain order requiring businesses in the road transport industry to adjust rates to account for increased fuel costs arising from Middle East conflicts. This order applies broadly across road transport contractual chains, imposing immediate obligations on primary and secondary parties to ensure fuel cost recovery flows through the supply chain.

In Masters v Mitchell Shire Council (No 2) [2026] VSC 598, the plaintiff sought damages in the Supreme Court of Victoria for injuries sustained when his motorcycle crashed on a curve along Reedy Creek Road in Tyaak on 25 December 2022.

New South Wales has become the first Australian state to introduce a conditional registration scheme for medicinal cannabis patients, replacing automatic drug driving penalties with a threshold-based system. The reform requires patients to register with Transport for NSW and complete mandatory education, but questions remain about whether the new framework adequately balances road safety with patient rights.

New police powers in NSW allow officers to seize and destroy non-compliant e-bikes without court oversight. Understanding what makes an e-bike legal and when police can confiscate your device has become critical for riders across the state.