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...
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...
On 1 January 2011, a single, national consumer protection and fair-trading law commenced across Australia. The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 replaces the Trade Practices Act 1974 and large sections of Queensland’s Fair Trading Act 1989. The new legislation aims to give businesses a fair and competitive operating environment. The Act creates the Australian Consumer...
CSR was given a green light to proceed with the demerger of its sugar business on 23 April in a successful full bench appeal of a February decision that had refused the demerger. The Court of Appeal allowed CSR to present the demerger proposal to its shareholders. The shareholders’ decision then must still go before...
CSR was given a green light to proceed with the demerger of its sugar business on 23 April in a successful full bench appeal of a February decision that had refused the demerger. The Court of Appeal allowed CSR to present the demerger proposal to its shareholders. The shareholders’ decision then must still go before...
The Queensland Ombudsman, together with the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Public Service Commission, has produced a brochure which explains the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994 (Qld). The Act was introduced to provide protection for those who speak out about any wrongdoing in the public sector, commonly known as ‘blowing the whistle’. This whistleblowing is...
Adoption is an important issue for the people in our society desperate, but unable, to become parents, but to many the adoption process remains clouded in mystery. Recently, the State Government passed the long-anticipated Adoption Act 2009. This new Act repeals the Adoption of Children Act 1964, and brings Queensland into line with other Australian...
