In October 2010, a man from Morayfield, north of Brisbane, was charged with the assault of his neighbour, telling police “…he wouldn’t trim the hedges”. In Queensland, issues relating to trees and fences are the most common form of neighbourhood dispute – there is currently no statutory law in Queensland that provides for disputes relating...
This article takes a look at the emerging issue of social-networking in the legal space. Social-networking has become part of everyday life with new uses and applications continuing to emerge. The use of social networking continues to grow with Facebook, MySpace and Twitter boasting a combined membership of 730 million people. At the same time,...
As you are aware, new laws for pool safety, including spas, came into effect on 1 December 2010 for Queensland pool owners in the aim of reducing incidents of drowning and serious immersion injuries among young children in swimming pools. Previously, pool owners were required to ensure a pool was enclosed with compliant fencing regardless...
In the instance of a company going bankrupt, insolvent or into receivership, what are the rights of an employee? The Australian Government protects employees through the implementation of regulation and legislation such as the Corporations Act 2001, as well as through schemes such as the General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS). GEERS is a...
A new authority has been set up by the State Government armed with the task of rebuilding and getting Queensland back on its feet after more than three quarters of the State was affected by floods and cyclone damage. With legislated powers, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority will coordinate the mammoth task of rebuild and recovery....
In November 2010 two Commissions, the Australian Legal Reform Committee (ALRC) and the NSW Law Reform Commission, completed their first inquiry into family violence with the release of a report, Family Violence: A National Legal Response (ALRC Report 114, 2010) containing 187 recommendations for reform. This report was a product of the year-long joint inquiry...
A new Personal Property Security (PPS) Register will be introduced from October 2011. Currently the States, Territories and the Commonwealth Government all have different registers with different rules for personal property. Personal property is considered to be any form of property other than land, buildings or fixtures which form a part of that land. It...
Australia is currently updating its laws governing e-commerce. In February 2011 the Attorney-General the Hon Robert McClelland MP, introduced the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill to ensure Australia’s electronic transactions legislation will be brought into line with recent advances in technology. This was preceeded by extensive consultation dating back to 2008. Queensland is set to soon...
The business of “going green” has numerous benefits for law firms beyond reducing its environmental footprint. Growing awareness amongst the Australian legal sector to create a sustainable future has law firms across the country improving their energy practices and focusing on clean and renewable resources. But jumping on the sustainability bandwagon is not just an...
In the continuing saga over water rates, the Queensland Government has declared that the Gold Coast City Council can easily fund water rebates to households. AllConnex Water, the council-owned water distributor, stands to profit $94 million this year alone. Mayor Ron Clarke announced that a $50 rebate will be provided to Gold Coast home owners...
