News

Amendments to the Bankruptcy Act
On 24 June 2010, the Federal Parliament passed the Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act 2010. The changes arose from the Government's concern over the growing number of consumers who are turning to bankruptcy and unable to pay their debts as and when they fall due.
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Spotlight on pregnancy discrimination in the workplace
While the government's universal paid parental leave scheme is on the horizon, the issue of pregnancy discrimination is now under scrutiny by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
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Proposed privacy reforms
The Federal Government has released draft legislation which outlines a new set of privacy principles. The Australian Privacy Principles will replace the current National Privacy Principles. The Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee will inquire into and report on the Australian Privacy Principles by 21 September 2010.
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The extended family nucleus - grandparents and the Family Law Act
There are different scenarios which may warrant the involvement of relatives when a family dispute surfaces involving children. Ever increasingly grandparents and other extended family members are relied upon by couples to assist in the daily care and upbringing of children.
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A uniform Landlord Disclosure Statement on its way
Landlords of retail premises in Victoria will be required to provide tenants with a new form of disclosure statement from 1 September 2010. It is envisaged that the new harmonized disclosure statement will reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, particularly landlords operating across state borders.
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Children allowed to choose their religion in a marital breakup
The Melbourne Magistrates' Court has handed down its decision on a father's application to prevent his children from participating in religious ceremonies in the early stages of their lives.
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Fair Work Ombudsman cottons on to underpayments for employee training
The Fair Work Ombudsman has reported that major retailer Cotton On has back-paid staff more than $278,000 after it was discovered that the company had failed to pay staff for attending training outside working hours.
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Increase in adverse action claims under the Fair Work Act 2009
Employers should be aware of the likely increase in the number of adverse action claims under the Fair Work Act 2009. Adverse action claims are broad in scope, place a reverse onus on employers and are simple to commence.

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Government legislated paid parental scheme
Find out about the Government's new universal paid parental scheme, including eligibility under the scheme and how it affects those employers who are already committed to providing employees with parental leave entitlements.
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Divorce in Australia
With marriage rates declining and divorce rates on the rise, the facts and issues surrounding divorce in Australia are continually questioned. This article aims to address some of the frequently asked questions surrounding the subject of divorce.
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Selling your franchised business
When selling any business, there are many factors to consider and many steps in the process to be undertaken. This is even more so when the business being transferred is a franchise, as there are additional parties involved in the process and additional rules.
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Does "Without Prejudice" protect you in court?
It is a common misconception that using the words "without prejudice" will mean that communications made can not be used against you later in Court. That is not necessarily the case.
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Avoiding copyright infringement
In recent times, there have been a number of media reports alleging copyright infringement. From online real estate sites through to musical notes, copyright is an integral and valuable asset for any business. We provide this simple flowchart to help you avoid any claims of copyright infringement.
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Australia to update its international arbitration laws
Recent amendments to the International Arbitration Act will have significant implications for many international commercial agreements. Businesses should be considering the implications for their current and future transactions.
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Consumer Credit Code applies to vendor terms contracts
The position that the Consumer Credit Code applies to vendor terms contracts was set out in Geeveekay Pty Ltd & Ors v Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria. We examine this matter in more detail and bring to light the compliance issues of such contracts with the requirements under the new Uniform Credit Code.
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