Legal Insights
Crackdown on employers of subclass 457 visa holders
In recent times, the Department of Immigration has significantly stepped up its monitoring of subclass 457 sponsors, with the number of sanctions imposed on sponsoring employers increasing by 68%.
Productivity commission to conduct generational review of Industrial Relations laws
In December 2014, the Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a broad enquiry into Australia's workplace relations framework and make recommendations about how current laws can be improved to maximise outcomes for Australian employers, employees and the economy.
Extended warranty offers can be costly to your business
In today’s retail environment, businesses regularly offer customers extended warranties for an additional price. When offering an extended warranty, it is crucial for the business to ensure that any offer for an extended warranty complies with the customer protections set out in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
Lifting the veil of a shadow director
Do you ever provide advice to company directors, and they act on that advice? Do you ever give instructions to company directors and they act on those instructions?
People have a general awareness of the implications of personal liability as a director. For example, directors can find themselves personally liable for debts to employees, tax debts and penalties owed to the Australian Tax Office or for breaches of The Corporations Act 2001 (“the Act”).
Bullying in the modern workplace - how far can it extend?
The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has handed down an important interpretive decision concerning when a worker is bullied “at work”, for the purposes of the workplace bullying provisions under the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).
New year's resolutions for family business
Each New Year people make personal resolutions that more often than not are left unfulfilled and forgotten by the end of January. So perhaps this year rather than focusing on yourself, take the time to reflect on your family business and the goals which you would like to achieve.
Land Acquisition: Awards of Costs to Claimants Despite Determination in Favour of Acquiring Authority
The Tribunal in Heislers v Melbourne Water Corporation [2014] VCAT 1399 ordered that Melbourne Water, as the acquiring authority of a pipeline easement related to the Wonthaggi desalination plant, pay 80% of the claimant’s costs in the proceeding.
$8.3 million penalty imposed on Sydney forklift gas cartel
A total of $8.3 million in penalties was imposed by the Federal Court upon two forklift gas supply companies, Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (Renegade), Speed-E-Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd (Speed-E-Gas) and three individuals of the two companies, for engaging in cartel conduct restricting competition.
Shop-a-holics: Are you aware of your lay-by rights?
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have instituted proceedings against the well-known Christmas hamper company, Chrisco.
The importance of documenting gifts and loans to family members
Parents frequently provide their children with financial assistance to purchase a home or an investment property. Financial assistance provided by a parent to a child will be considered a loan or a gift for family law purposes.
Has new SMSF penalty regime allowed the Courts to adopt a lenient approach to serious breaches of SIS?
The new penalty regime for self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) may allow a relatively lenient approach where cases involve a number of serious breaches of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) , if the two recent Federal Court decisions of DCT v Lyons and DCT v Graham Family Superannuation Pty Ltd are any guide to how the regime will be applied by the Courts.
The Sun Sets On Award Transitional Provisions
Modern awards commenced on 1 January 2010. All modern awards contained similar transitional provisions which allowed modern awards to phase in over a period of five years.
New Twist To Bringing Family Property Proceedings
In a recent case, the Plaintiff Donna Nolan separated from her husband and brought proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland separate to her proceedings in the Family Court.
How Can Family Business Meetings And Advisory Councils Help Your Business?
Family Meetings
Many successful families in business hold at least one family meeting each year. Family meetings often have a formal business and social component, and a structured and unstructured component, and are frequently held in locations away from the normal environments of the family.
Reliance on Aboriginal heritage mapping – proceed with caution
A recent decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has highlighted the risk of relying on online mapping tools to assess whether a site is within an area of ‘cultural heritage sensitivity’ within the meaning of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and regulations.
OC objections to planning permits – A case of futility?
A recent decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal confirms the approach in the Planning and Environment List to permit applications where Owners Corporations object.
Supreme Court considers trustee’s responsibility to disclose reasons
Discretionary trusts are widely used in modern-day business and are generally understood as efficient structures for asset protection and tax minimisation. The obligations of trustees in administering trusts, particularly with regard to providing reasons for their decisions to beneficiaries, are less well understood.
Avoiding work party pitfalls
The end of 2014 is fast approaching and as we don our dancing shoes and toast to the successes of the year that was, it is important for employers to remain mindful of the legal and HR risks that work parties can pose.
Changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct
On 1 January 2015, the current Franchising Code of Conduct (Code) will be repealed and replaced with an updated Code. The changes will affect all franchised businesses and this alert summarises that five key changes to the Code.
Subdivision of land in two zones
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has clarified the interpretation of the provisions in all planning schemes in Victoria concerning the subdivision of land parcels which are in two planning zones.