International Recent Developments: Australia

This Article focuses on the significant decisions that emanated from Australian courts from 2011 to 2012 It aims to provide readers with an insight into Australian maritime law and its development over this period.(1) The cases reveal that litigation tied to the mining and offshore industries have had a significant impact on the development of maritime jurisprudence in Australia. On the legislative front, Australia is priming itself to be competitively positioned in order to attract international shipping back to its shores. A slew of legislative reforms have been implemented to achieve this goal. The reforms have also involved the streamlining and clarification of safety and environmental management regulations, particularly in respect of offshore oil and gas. This aspect is briefly touched upon at the conclusion of this Article