As expectations rise and resources tighten, many organisations are feeling the strain between what they want to deliver and what their workforce can realistically support. Too often, workforce planning is treated as a compliance activity, disconnected from real decision‑making, and owned solely by HR. The result is blind spots that show up as cost overruns, capability gaps, and reactive choices.

ACCC v Fewstone is a reminder that consumer law risk is ultimately a governance issue. Where compliance frameworks fail to operate effectively in practice, enforcement action, and meaningful penalties are increasingly likely to follow.

ASIC v Bekier reinforces that governance failures rarely arise from a single decision. Instead, they emerge when known risks are not properly identified, escalated or acted upon, ultimately placing executives, in particular, squarely in the regulatory crosshairs.