Publications
Latest News
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Why Every Farmer Needs a Will…
04-Feb-2019
It is so important to have a well-drafted Will, in order to ensure that upon your death, your farm, hard earned money, and other assets: a) Pass to the people you want; and b) Support your beneficiaries’ needs (such as a surviving spouse or children) in the way you want ..
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Your PPS Registrations may be expiring soon
22-Jan-2019
We have provided numerous articles (/publications) on the Personal Property Securities Act (“PPSA”) and its importance in protecting your assets and taking and perfecting security over other assets. One of the key components of the PPSA is a 24/7 online Register where you can register and p..
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Succession Planning: Part Five – Living Arrangements For Family Members
08-Jan-2019
During the succession planning process, the situation often arises where the older generation (parents/grandparents/aunts and uncles) want to continue to reside on the farm and live in their home, while the younger generation take on the responsibilities of running the farm. It is important ..
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Conflict with a Company’s Constitution
17-Dec-2018
Setting up a new company is on a superficial level, quick and easy. However, there are intricacies to the incorporation process of which to be aware. When setting up a company many people simply tick the yes box when asked “do you need a Constitution”. However after the company is incorporated, ..
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Fire Affected Farmers Eligible for Assistance
10-Dec-2018
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (“DAF”) and Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (“QRIDA”) have announced assistance packages for those Primary Producers affected from the recent fires that occurred between 30 November to 6 December in our region. These Primary Pr..
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The copyright percentage rule
05-Dec-2018
There is a common, and potentially very costly, misconception that changing a copyright protected work by 10% (or any other percentage for that matter) or only reproducing a smaller proportion of a protected work will mean that one can avoid liability for copyright infringement. This i..
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New Security of Payment provisions finally to come into effect – but next stage of Project Bank Accounts pushed back
30-Nov-2018
The Queensland government has announced that the Security of Payment provisions of the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act (BIFA) will commence on 17 December 2018. This will mean significant change for those in the building and construction industry. A..
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“It’s okay, you won’t need a licence….”; another contractor falls afoul of the QBCC licensing regime
07-Nov-2018
The licensing regime erected by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld) (QBCC Act) is, to quote Churchill “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”. That said, if you want to be involved in the construction industry in Queensland, it is a riddle which you need..
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Beware: the negative online review!
07-Nov-2018
A recent dispute between a building certifier and his client has landed in the District Court after the client posted allegedly defamatory comments on Yelp, True Local and a number of other public business review sites. The building certifier sought damages in the sum of $150,000 a..
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Surcharges under the ACCC microscope
02-Nov-2018
The recent action taken by Australia’s consumer watchdog, the ACCC, against Europcar is a reminder for all business owners to ensure they are not charging “unreasonable” credit card surcharges. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has started proceedings in the Federal..
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Changes to casual employment status under Fair Work Act
29-Oct-2018
A recent Full Federal Court decision in WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene [2018] FCAFC 131 will have a significant impact on casual employment. The Court decided that a worker who was supplied through a labour hire company as a casual truck driver to a mine in Queensland was not in fact a casual emplo..
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Combustible cladding reforms put onus of audit on private owners
25-Oct-2018
Owners of private and local government buildings in the Mackay region must meet new state-wide obligations to undertake a mandatory three stage process to identify if a building has ‘combustible cladding’. Under the new process, if a building is found to have combustible cladding, owners mus..