Jayant Patel submitted an application in the High Court of Australia seeking special leave to appeal a decision of the Queensland Court of Appeal. Mr Patel was convicted on three counts of manslaughter and one of unlawful grievous bodily harm for deciding to operate on a patient whose health was precarious. The patient suffered bleeding...
On 30 January 2012, a national scheme governing security interests over most types of personal property commenced. The new national Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) consolidates security registers previously operated by the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments into a single register. Broadly, a personal property security interest occurs when a person or company takes an...
In the run up to the recent State Election the Queensland Law Society called for the major political parties to commit to better treatment of people in the criminal justice system who suffer from mental health issues. In a State election issues paper, the Society highlighted the need for programs to identify mental health issues...
New rules for duplex owners will simplify the day-to-day management of their properties. The regulation, which commenced on 28 February 2012, allows decisions regarding the management of a duplex to be made by agreement between the owners of the two lots in the duplex, instead of having to go through a formal body corporate meeting...
Fraud and scams can strike a business at any time, and Fraud Week served as an opportunity for everyone to review personal and business financial security procedures. An initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT), it also raises awareness on new types of fraud and scams which have recently surfaced. Slam scams! Press delete,...
Building Boost Grant The $10,000 Queensland Government Building Boost Grant has been extended until 30 April 2012. It is available to buy or build a new home in Queensland. Whether you are buying a new home, buying or building your first home ($17,000 available in this instance) or buying a new investment property you may...
Queensland Parliament aims to improve early childhood education with the passage of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Bill 2011. The new Act will apply to more than 2600 early childhood services in Queensland with the new National Quality Framework which commenced on 1 January 2012. The framework includes a quality rating system for...
Learner drivers found driving unaccompanied will lose their licence under proposed new road safety rules. Under current rules, learner drivers are issued with four demerit points when successfully gaining their learner plates. If they are found driving solo they are issued a $160 fine and lose one demerit point. In the period May 2010 to...
A number of bills have recently been submitted to Queensland Parliament relating to the treatment of animals with the introduction of amendments to create a new offence of serious animal cruelty under the Criminal Code. Anyone convicted of this offence will be automatically banned from owning animals of the same type for a minimum of...
In March the Attorney-General tasked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) with the job of conducting public consultation across the community and industry on the National Classification Scheme. The review was to take into consideration the rapid pace of technological change, the need to improve classification information available to the community, the effect of media...
