Human rights at the forefront
On 31 October 2018, the Queensland Government introduced new human rights legislation into Parliament. Although not constituting a statutory bill of rights, the Human Rights Bill 2018 (Qld) (“the Bill“), if passed, will increase the focus of government, courts and tribunals on internationally recognised civil and political rights,[1] while providing modest new remedies for some […]
ReadmoreProcedural fairness not readily ousted
Administrative decision makers are subject to a common law duty to accord procedural fairness for decisions which affect rights, interests and legitimate expectations, unless the governing statute clearly provides otherwise.[1] This is a subset of the broader principle of legality, that courts will not interpret legislation as abrogating or contracting fundamental rights or freedoms unless […]
ReadmoreNot all errors are equal
The nature of jurisdictional error has long confounded and confused. Not all errors of law are equal. Some errors deprive decision makers of authority, others do not. Some errors may be reviewed; the review of others may validly be excluded. There is a distinction of principle between errors characterised as jurisdictional errors and errors characterised […]
ReadmoreWhen is a decision subject to judicial review?
The Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld) (JRA) provides an avenue for a person aggrieved by an administrative decision to seek judicial review. However, the right of a person to make an application for review of a decision[1] and the power of the Court to make orders[2] depend on the existence of ‘a decision to which […]
ReadmoreWhen is it too late? The equitable right to discharge a mortgage right before the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer
In Six Bruce Pty Ltd v Jadig Finance Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 552, the Supreme Court of Victoria considered whether the Court should grant an urgent interlocutory injunction to stop an auction the very next day on the basis that the defaulting mortgagor had secured an unconditional offer to refinance. What happened? Six Bruce Pty […]
ReadmoreTwo for one: The Court may issue two arrest warrants for failure to attend an examination
The appeal of the decision of the Federal Court in the case of Mensink v Parbery [2018] FCAFC 101 examines the governing principles the Court considers when granting: an arrest warrant to secure appearance at an examination; and an order for contempt of court for failing to comply with an order requiring attendance for examination. […]
ReadmoreMere assertion is not enough: The Federal Court provides a reminder of the evidence required to set aside a creditor’s statutory demand for genuine dispute
In Aussie Hoist Property Pty Ltd v Mulqueen [2018] FCA 1493, the Federal Court has given a timely reminder that a company receiving a creditor’s statutory demand (Stat Demand) cannot have that Stat Demand set aside on the basis of genuine dispute as to the existence or amount of the relevant debt merely by asserting […]
ReadmoreLinc Energy: Special leave refused by High Court
In the final instalment of the Linc Energy Case,[1] the High Court has refused to grant the Queensland State Government special leave to appeal a decision of the Queensland Court of Appeal with respect to the liability of liquidators to comply with an environmental protection order (EPO). Background The litigation has been ongoing since 2016 […]
ReadmoreData protection and the human error curse: Part 1 | Why CEOs and Directors need to be concerned
Something as simple as inadvertently sending a customer’s personal information to another person could cost your company dearly – lost earnings, lost customers, lost business partners, damage to reputation and increased compliance costs. If your company is governed by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), is a credit provider, deals with personal or health information or […]
ReadmoreMore greenspace for Brisbane
As part of the Brisbane City Council’s (Council) commitment to implementing ‘Brisbane’s Future Blueprint’, it has recently further announced its support for the implementation of rooftop gardens as part of new developments, to bolster inner-city greenspace through proposed amendments to the Brisbane City Plan (City Plan). The proposed amendment to the City Plan, is to […]
ReadmoreStayin’ alive: Revival of lapsed Development Approvals
The currency period / expiry period for a development approval can be extended by making an extension application under section 86 of the Planning Act 2016, but only if the request is made to the assessment manager prior to the lapsing of the development approval. The Court has a wide discretion to excuse non-compliance with […]
ReadmoreDevelopment refused due to conflict with planning scheme despite consistency with local character
The Court in WOL Projects Pty Ltd v Gold Coast City Council [2018] QPEC 48 recently refused a proposed development comprised of four detached two storey dwellings for a property located in Robina. The property is approximately 2,301 sqm and the development proposed a total site cover of 28.41 percent. The site is located within […]
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