Byline: Brighid Virtue

It is common practice for businesses to have a set of standard form terms and conditions that apply to all their business agreements for the supply of goods or services. This is a good practice, but only when it is implemented properly.

On 30 January 2026, the Office of the Australian Anti‑Slavery Commissioner (OAASC) released its initial position paper outlining recommendations to strengthen Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (MSA).

Recent data published by Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), indicates that the number of corporate insolvencies in Australia continues to rise. In an industry where the margins are notoriously tight, transport and logistics operators can find themselves in parlous financial circumstances very quickly if one of their customers suffers financial stress.

A version of this article was published in the August/September 2025 edition of The DCN.

International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) are a set of eleven standardised contractual terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce.

They can be incorporated into international trade agreements, but do not constitute a complete contract on their own. In our experience, a common misconception of the parties to a trade agreement is that reference to an Incoterm is sufficient.

A strong brand can help your manufacturing business differentiate itself from its competitors, build customer loyalty and promote brand recognition. It is crucial for business success and is likely one of the most valuable assets that your business owns.

Shareholder disputes affect companies of all sizes across all industries in Australia and are far more common than you might think. The transport and logistics industry is certainly not immune.