Publications
Latest News
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How to start the process of negotiating an Enterprise Agreement
14-Jun-2018
Starting the process for negotiating an Enterprise Agreement can be fraught with traps and unwanted surprises. Here are 5 key items to address before you commence the process. 1. Strategise Your labour cost is probably, if not definitely, one of the biggest operating expenses of your busin..
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Newsflash: Rise in pay rates
05-Jun-2018
On Friday last week the Fair Work Commission (FWC) granted award covered workers a 3.5% increase. The FWC lifted the national minimum wage by $24.30 a week or 64 cents an hour to take effect from the 1st July, 2018. The flow on effect to Awards is a 3.5% increase. For example, t..
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Common Problems with Trust Deeds
17-May-2018
Increasingly, we are having to fix problems with trust deeds that come across our desk, due to a range of issues. Whilst these problems may not immediately jump out at you, they rear their heads when changes are made, and especially if the Deed needs to be registered with the Titles Office. ..
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New Laws Restrict The Clearing of Farm Land
15-May-2018
There has been plenty of media on the new Vegetation and Management Laws that were passed by Parliament on 3 May this year. These new laws may have a great impact on many farmers’ ability to clear and manage their land in the future. The commencement date of these new laws is yet to be advi..
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Why Everyone Needs a Will…
26-Apr-2018
Whilst no one wants to think about it, unfortunately death will come to all of us…and we do not know when. It is so important to have a well-drafted Will, in order to ensure that upon your death, your hard earned money, and precious assets: pass to the people you want; t..
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Could you be liable for something out of your control?
19-Apr-2018
Do you have a well drafted Force Majeure clause in your contracts? If not, then you are taking a massive risk… ‘Force Majeure’ is French, meaning “superior force”. In a Contract, such a clause allows a party to suspend or terminate performance of their obligations when certain ci..
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Labour Hire Licensing Regulations Now Released
11-Apr-2018
The long awaited Labour Hire Licensing Regulation 2018 (Qld) was released last Friday. The Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (Qld) (Act) was passed late last year and requires that a person who provides “labour hire services” in Queensland must be licensed to do so. A person provides “labour hi..
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The coming family and domestic violence leave is a new entitlement your business will likely have to manage
09-Apr-2018
The Fair Work Commission will include family and domestic violence leave into almost all modern awards. The details are currently being finalised. Why? Some employers may ask why, when they are trying to operate a commercial business, they are expected to share responsibility for this s..
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Practical completion and service under security of payment legislation
04-Apr-2018
A New South Wales security of payment case could be an indicator of how Queensland security of payments legislation may be interpreted by the Queensland courts. For a payment claim to be valid there must be a reference date… The High Court, in its first decision dealing with..
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Succession Planning for Farmers: Part One - To transfer or not to transfer – When is the right time?
22-Mar-2018
As the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!” This too applies to succession planning for farmers For all the baby boomers out there, your retirement plans and succession planning may be (or perhaps should be) already in order. Some of you may have this on y..
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What changes to labour hire laws really mean
16-Mar-2018
As published in the Daily Mercury on 15 March 2018. IN JUST over four weeks, it will be an offence to provide labour when unlicensed or to engage labour from an unlicensed provider. A breach of this new law carries series penalties, such as fines potentially in excess of $300,000 ..
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Six figure fine for employer
12-Mar-2018
Six figure fine for wages exploitation of a young worker and for failure to keep records for 3 months The Fair Work Commission has fined a director $21,500 and his company $100,000 for “an outrageous exploitation of a young worker”. A second year apprentice plumber worked more than..