The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has announced the launch of a public consultation on proposed amendments to the ACICA Arbitration Rules. ACICA invites submissions on a various areas including practice notes, artificial intelligence, settlement windows, sustainability, diversity, confidentiality, changes in party representation, emergency arbitrator provisions, expedited arbitration, joinder, the publication of anonymised decisions and awards and an opt‑in appeals procedure. The proposed amendments are intended to build on ACICA’s established commitment to delivering a just, efficient, timely and cost‑effective arbitral process. The consultation closes on 18 May 2026.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has announced the commencement of a review process for its 2021 Arbitration Rules and Expedited Arbitration Rules. A newly reconstituted Rules Committee, comprising 13 distinguished legal professionals from various firms and institutions, will undertake this task. Chaired by Partner at Peter & Kim, James Morrison, the committee aims to enhance the existing rules to maintain ACICA's position as a leading arbitral institution. This review aligns with ACICA's quinquennial practice, established in 2011, of updating its rules to reflect international best practices and meet evolving user expectations in the field of commercial arbitration.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has launched the second edition of the Australian Arbitration Survey to gather comprehensive empirical evidence on Australia’s domestic and international commercial arbitration landscape, building on its earlier arbitration research. ACICA invited practitioners and users to provide views on what works well in arbitration and what could be improved, including, where relevant, the drafting of arbitration clauses, anonymised case data from 2022–25, and perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence in arbitration. The survey was designed to be strictly confidential, with respondent identities used only for de-duplication and completion tracking and stored separately from response data. The survey closes on 31 March 2026.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has launched a survey to understand the views of the arbitration community on sustainability practices. The ACICA Sustainability Task Force released a draft ACICA Protocol on Sustainability, the 'ACICA Protocol: Towards more Sustainable Arbitral Proceedings' for public consultation. The survey closes on 6 September 2024.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)  has published its statistics for 2023. ACICA reported that it received 21 new administered arbitration cases with a total value of approximately AUD$ 900m in 2023 with 72% of cases being international and involving at least one non-Australian party. Of the cases filed in 2023, 17 were under the ACICA Rules 2021, three cases were under the ACICA Expedited Rules 2021 and one case was under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Arbitration Rules 2021.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has published its 2024 case statistics, reporting a total of 54 administered matters, including 25 new filings. These comprised 13 arbitration cases, 11 expert determinations and one mediation. The total quantified value of the administered cases exceeded AUD$3.315bn, a significant increase from the AUD$2.1bn reported in 2023. The new cases covered a range of sectors, including construction, energy, finance, retail, and IT services. Sydney was selected as the seat of arbitration in 69% of new matters. International participation remained strong, with 46% of new arbitration cases involving at least one non-Australian party. In 2024, ACICA appointed arbitrators in which 50% were women, up from 33% in 2023. All appointments made by ACICA were first-time appointments, reflecting its ongoing efforts to diversify the pool of arbitrators. Preliminary data for 2025 indicates continued activity, with ten new arbitration cases already filed, collectively valued at over AUD$100m.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has published its 2025 case statistics, reporting 50 administered matters, including 14 new administered arbitration cases. The total quantified value of administered cases exceeded AUD 5.4 billion. New cases covered several sectors, with construction and infrastructure accounting for nearly 40% of cases, followed by energy and share sale disputes. ACICA also reported growth in disputes relating to cryptocurrency and online content creation. Sydney remained the preferred arbitral seat, selected in 50% of new arbitrations. International participation remained strong, with almost 40% of arbitrations involving international parties. Of the arbitrator appointments made by ACICA in 2025, 50% were women, and 75% of arbitrators appointed directly by ACICA were first-time appointees in an ACICA-administered arbitration.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) is seeking applications for the role of Secretary General. Applicants are invited to include a statement of interest and current CV in their applications. The closing date for applications is 31 May 2024.

The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has announced that it has appointed Diana Bowman as its new Secretary-General. The role will commence on 20 August 2024.

Adverse Condition Investigation

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has published part 2 of its report detailing its advice to reduce barriers to research for all controlled drugs set out in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, SI 2001/3998. Recommendations include exempting universities and hospitals and clinical studies with the relevant Health Research Authority and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approvals for research using Schedule 1 controlled drugs from applying for Home Office domestic licences, and instead operating with the requirements of Schedule 2 controlled drugs. The ACMD also recommends that the Home Office reviews the import/export licence application system to improve applicant understanding and experience, and designs a framework for the assessment and evaluation of policy changes. In addition, it is recommended to exempt approved ‘research organisations’, ‘research’ and ‘animal research’ from applying for a Home Office domestic licence, extend the exempt product definition to include products used for ‘scientific research’, and allow industry organisations with an existing Home Office domestic licence to flexibly add an additional ‘Schedule 1’ permit rather than reapply for a new licence.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has launched a consultation to review the impact of 2018 changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 regarding cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs). The review aims to assess whether the legislation achieved its intended impact and identify any unintended consequences. The call seeks input from healthcare professionals, researchers, manufacturers, patients and regulatory bodies. The review specifically focuses on CBPMs that have not undergone medicines regulator assessment. The consultation closes on 17 October 2025.