News
Why you should read online terms and conditions
The rapid pace at which technology is progressing means more of us are ‘transacting’ in a global environment. International online contracts are common for businesses and consumers - whether we are purchasing fashion accessories through online retail outlets,...
HomeBuilder Program to assist the residential construction market
On 4 June 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the immediate commencement of the HomeBuilder program. HomeBuilder is one of the federal government’s economic responses to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Its aim is to stimulate demand for new homes...
What a Will Kit doesn’t do
There are various ‘Will Kits’ available on-line – most are cheap or ‘free’ and all you need to do is download them and fill in the blanks. Many websites boast that you can prepare your Will ‘without spending hundreds of dollars on legal fees’. Simple, right? Not...
Honey, I just fell off a roof – protection for tradies!
If you are a tradie, are married to a tradie or have tradie mates, this is important. Unless you are the luckiest or least accident prone individual in the world it is highly likely that you will suffer some kind of accident or injury during the course of your working...
Appointing an Enduring Guardian
When making estate plans, many people under-estimate the importance of appointing an enduring guardian. An enduring guardian can make lifestyle, health and medical decisions on your behalf if you lack the capacity to make those decisions yourself. A guardian acts as a...
Commercial Leasing and COVID-19 – Mandatory Code of Conduct released
The economic impact of COVID-19 on business generally, and commercial leasing arrangements has been the focus of many landlords, tenants and governments. On 7 April 2020, the Federal Government released its much-anticipated Mandatory Code of Conduct - SME Commercial...
Contractual obligations in the wake of COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) presents numerous challenges for individuals and businesses, amongst them, the legal rights and responsibilities under existing contracts during a pandemic such as this. Parties to a contract that are facing difficulties in meeting their...
Construction Defects in Strata Developments
If you have recently purchased a new or near-new apartment or townhouse in a strata complex, only to find construction defects or poor-quality work, you will no doubt be disappointed and frustrated. Knowing your rights and the relevant time limitations in pursuing a...
Alternatives to Bankruptcy
You may know someone who is having difficulty managing their financial affairs and has debts and liabilities which they cannot meet. They may be considering declaring themselves bankrupt. Before they do so, consideration should be given to some alternatives which are...
Unfair Contracts Update – are you complying with the law?
The Unfair Contract Terms Regime (UCT Regime) was extended to cover standard form contracts entered into with ‘small business’ in November 2016. The Regime is fully operational and has a significant impact on the way Australian businesses contract with each other. It...