Meta has said it will defend itself vigorously against a class action in Australia's Federal Court. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of eight applicants, alleges that addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram harm children and teenagers. It seeks compensation for users exposed to harmful content or who developed a social media addiction. The Federal Court in Sydney has issued a suppression order over details of the claim and the applicants' identities. Separately, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay US$25 billion for misleading consumers, a ruling the company says it will appeal.
Former youth detainees across Australia describe alleged sexual abuse, often beginning with invasive strip-searches and isolation in cells. Psychiatrist Sivasankaran Balaratnasingam says most reported abuse involves guards and custodial officers, often at night. Dozens of people have joined a class action alleging abuse at Melbourne's Parkville youth justice centre, with allegations dating back 50 years. Many survivors are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and advocates say the legal process is slow and adds to their trauma.
Fortescue Metals Group has sacked a senior executive after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and bullying. The company said the executive breached its policies and values. The executive was not named. Law firm MinterEllison conducted the investigation. Fortescue faces a class action in the Federal Court from female employees alleging rape, sexual assault and stalking at Pilbara mine sites in Western Australia.
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A Federal Court class action against the Queensland government over alleged failures to reunite First Nations families has been discontinued. The case was launched in 2023 against the state's child safety department. It was dropped after the litigation funder, Therium Litigation Finance Atlas, withdrew support in September 2025 and no new funding was found. Judge Craig Dowling said group members can still bring fresh legal action in the future and will not be liable for legal costs.
Toyota Australia has agreed to pay $750 million to settle two class actions over defective diesel particulate filters fitted to HiLux, Prado and Fortuner vehicles. The settlement is subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia. The proceedings cover 264,170 vehicles acquired between October 2015 and April 2020, including some later sold by original owners. Toyota said it remains committed to offering a free remedy available since 2020 and apologised for any inconvenience. The filter defect can cause blockages, smoke, higher fuel use and repeated repairs.
A class action has been launched against the federal government over allegations of unauthorised sharing of veterans' medical records. The claim, filed by Gordon Legal, alleges the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) shared data from around 300,000 veterans without consent. The MATES program, which operated from 2004 to 2024, is accused of accessing and disclosing personal health information, including medications and conditions, to identify and contact GPs about potential health risks. The lawsuit seeks damages for breach of confidence in the Victorian Supreme Court.
A class action accusing Queensland's child safety department of racial discrimination against First Nations families will be discontinued after losing funding. A grandmother involved in the case said her grandchildren were removed from her care in an act of discrimination. The lawsuit, led by Brett Harold Gunning and Madison May Burns, sought an apology and compensation. Advocates say Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more than nine times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children.
