In light of the review of the PPS Act that is currently underway, we seek your input on how the PPS regime has impacted on your business so that we can better represent the interests of SMEs in the review process.

Arguably not since the introduction of GST has there been a more urgent need for businesses to review and revise their business practices, procedures and documentation than now.  With the recent commencement of the Personal Property Securities Register under the Personal Property Securities Act (PPS Act), businesses need to take proactive steps to protect their businesses.

On 27 June 2013, the first major decision in Australia in regard to the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) was handed down in the New South Wales Supreme Court.  The decision in the case of Maiden Civil v QES [2013] NSWSC 852 is a powerful illustration that possession can trump ownership if you do not register your interest in goods on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPS Register). 

It could be argued that not since the introduction of the GST has there been a more urgent need for businesses to review and revise their business practices, procedures and documentation. In January 2012 the Personal Property Securities Act introduced a new Personal Property Securities Regime which, in effect, compels business owners to take proactive steps to formally register their interests in certain assets if they wish to ensure their business and their assets are properly protected.

The Federal Government has released a consultation paper seeking feedback from small business owners on proposed protections from unfair contract terms.

The subclass 457 visa regime allows employers to access the skills of overseas workers where a genuine skills shortage exists in Australia or where a suitably qualified Australian worker is not available. This regime addresses employer demand for skilled workers in a way which ensures job opportunities for Australians are not undermined. 

As you would appreciate from our previous alerts regarding the reform of the Privacy Act (Cth) 1988, the two major aspects of the reform involved:

1. the introduction of the Australian Privacy Principals; and
2. the reworking of the Australian credit reporting system.

The concept of “Australian Permanent Residence” can be misleading.

Upon the grant of a Permanent Residence Visa, many people assume that their new status is, as the title suggests, permanent, that is, forever. It follows that permanent residents often assume that they are able to travel to and from Australia without restriction indefinitely. However, this is an incorrect assumption to make that can have a devastating impact on a person’s ability to return to Australia.

The Government introduced a bill into parliament in March to proposing the following amendments to the Personal Properties Security Act 2009 (PPS Act):

1. Remove the provision deeming that leases of serialised goods for more than 90 days are a ‘PPS lease’; and2.            
2. Amend the definition of ‘motor vehicle’.

on 12 March 2014, significant changes to the Privacy Act 1988 took effect. The changes included:

1. the introduction of a more comprehensive credit reporting system; and2.            
2. the introduction of a set of Australian Privacy Principles, which set out the standards, rights and obligations in relation to the collecting, handling, holding, access and correction of personal information.