Publications
Latest News
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Squatters! Recent real life examples of how squatters can take over your property
15-Sep-2020
Two recent cases in the media involving squatters have demonstrated how things can go wrong when you don’t take the proper steps to protect your property rights. Powell v. Thorne The first involved a cattle grazier (Mr Powell) who owned 400 hectares, west of Brisbane. Mr Powell d..
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Changes to the blue card system… coming SOON!
12-Aug-2020
Current and prospective blue card holders need to be aware of major changes to the blue card system in Queensland that take effect from 31st August 2020. The new requirements will affect current and future blue card holders. Anyone intending to work in August or September this year in a regu..
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Claim rejected for worker who had pain when turning neck at work
23-Jul-2020
A claim for workers’ compensation by a worker whose position involved turning his head from one computer screen to another, making notes and dealing with phone calls, has been rejected by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Background Mr Hook was employed by the Department of Human Services..
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New Industrial Manslaughter Laws = 20 years jail and hefty fines…are you at risk?
09-Jul-2020
The Queensland Government passed new legislation, which came into effect on 1 July, 2020, which seeks to impose heavy penalties on companies, their executives and their senior employees personally for workplace deaths arising from negligence (industrial manslaughter). These laws are similar to I..
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Rise in pay rates announced
19-Jun-2020
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has granted a 1.75% wages increase to minimum pay and award wage workers. The FWC lifted the national minimum wage by $13.00 to $753.80 a week, or $19.84 an hour. The flow on effect to Awards is a 1.75% increase. Significantly the start date of the rise..
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Ban Order by Government on live cattle exports in 2011 found to be invalid
16-Jun-2020
On 2 June, the Federal Court found that the Commonwealth Government was liable to pay compensation to Brett Cattle Company Pty Ltd and others for the unlawful Ban Order placed on live cattle exports to Indonesia in 2011. The Ban Order was made under the Export Control Act 1982 (Cth) which ga..
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Drink driving - know the facts
02-Jun-2020
Drinking alcohol reduces your ability to drive safely. Alcohol affects your judgement, vision, coordination and reflexes — increasing your risk of having a crash. Queensland has 4 alcohol limits. These limits are used to apply penalties if you’re caught driving with an illegal blood or..
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Commercial and Retail Leasing – Queensland’s COVID-19 Regulations from 28 May, 2020
02-Jun-2020
The Queensland Parliament has finally passed the new Regulations impacting on retail and business leases across Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Retail Shop Leases and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 (Qld) (the regulation) was passed on 28 May 20..
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Court rules that child should not travel during Covid-19
15-May-2020
Earlier this month the Family Court decided a case where a parent breached a Court Order, by refusing to allow their child to spend time with the other parent because of issues relating to Covid-19. The decision gives us an indication of what circumstances might constitute a “reasonable excu..
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Tenant in your rental property during the COVID-19 Pandemic - what are your rights (and obligations)?
24-Apr-2020
On 22 April the Queensland Government set out measures that each residential Landlord and Tenant will have to abide by during the pandemic period. The laws are being introduced as a way to balance Landlord and Tenants’ rights during these unpredictable and volatile times. During ..
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JobKeeper Enabling Directions Explained
24-Apr-2020
Central to the new JobKeeper laws are the rights of employers to give “JobKeeper enabling directions”. Importantly the rights only apply for those employers and their employees who qualify for the JobKeeper scheme and where the employees are receiving the JobKeeper payment. Criteri..
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Residential Tenancies - Impact of COVID-19 Guidelines by Queensland Government
22-Apr-2020
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide COVID-19 has been developed by the Queensland Government in their approach of implementing a moratorium on evictions in residential property. A summary of the Guidelines include: threshold criteria to qualify ..