Council pays the price for taking enforcement action against the wrong party

Background Gold Coast City Council (Council) issued an enforcement notice to the owner of a lot in a community title scheme (CTS).  The lot adjoins a buffer area, which is common property of the CTS (the Buffer Area), and borders Saltwater Creek in Helensvale.  Pursuant to the community management statement for the CTS, the lot […]

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You’re Out of Time … Start Again

In Supreme Renovators Pty Ltd v Logan City Council [2019] QPEC 63 the applicant attempted to convince the Planning and Environment Court (Court) that there were “sufficient grounds” to extend the timeframe for filing an appeal out of time.  The applicant missed its appeal period by approximately two months and one week. The applicant sought two […]

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Clarification of Exemptions for Vegetation Clearing for Bushfire Management Activities

The previous arrangement surrounding clearing vegetation for bushfire management activities was confusing.  The Planning (Spit Master Plan and Other Matters) Amendment Regulation 2019 (Qld) which commenced on 6 December 2019, is an attempt to clear up some of this confusion as to the exemptions for vegetation clearing for bushfire management activities.   The amendment A new […]

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Ban on High-Rise Development at The Spit

The Spit Master Plan in 2019 was adopted by the Queensland Government in 2019 after an extensive 18 month planning and consultation period, which attracted more than 23,000 pieces of feedback.[1] The Spit Master Plan is a non-statutory document until introduced into the Gold Coast City Plan 2016, a process likely to take some time.  […]

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PI policy carve outs for cladding – new MO effective 15 February 2020

Effective from 15 February 2020, the Victorian State Government has extended the permitted exclusions in ‘claims made’ professional indemnity policies relating to external wall cladding products to apply to all relevant industry professionals.   Section 135 of the Building Act 1993 (Vic) allows the Minister for Planning to publish Ministerial Orders in the Government Gazette requiring […]

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Trade promotions update | Instant win

Instant win promotions are usually considered games of chance in Australia. Here is an overview of the permits required, with our recommendations and tips to consider when running an instant win promotion.                                   Authored by: David Smith, Partner Jessica […]

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Considerations for an early release of superannuation request

Quite often a lender will receive a request from their customer to support an early release of superannuation to assist with mortgage repayments and pay outstanding arrears in situations where the lender has commenced enforcement action for possession of the mortgaged property. Click here for full size image.               […]

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Annualised wage arrangements – changes commence 1 March 2020

The Fair Work Commission has determined that revised annualised wage provisions will be inserted into a number of modern awards from 1 March 2020, including the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2010 and Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2010. Employers that utilise an annualised wage arrangement under a modern award will be required […]

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BEAR (now FAR) – the extension of the Banking Executive Accountability Regime

On 4 February 2019, the Morrison Government announced it would implement recommendations 3.9, 4.12, 6.6, 6.7 and 6.8 of the Financial Services Royal Commission to extend the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) to all APRA-regulated entities e.g. banks, insurance and superannuation firms and provide joint administration to ASIC as the conduct regulator. On 22 January […]

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Update: Banking Code of Practice

Following recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services industry, ASIC has approved an updated version of the Banking Code of Practice, which will take effect from 1 March 2020. Click here to download the full article.                       […]

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Non-compliant cladding extends to ‘Biowood’ composite cladding used as an external attachment

The Owners Strata Plan No 92888 v Taylor Constructions Group Pty Ltd and Frasers Putney Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCAT [15 November 2019, Senior Member Boyce] (Taylor Constructions) The first decision in NSW involving combustible cladding has been handed down by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Whilst most of the attention in recent times has […]

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Major trade promotions changes proposed in NSW

The New South Wales government is proposing big changes to the way trade promotions are regulated. It has released a consultation draft of the Community Gaming Regulation 2020, which will give effect to the changes. In this update we explain the key proposed changes and some areas of uncertainty. Most notably: permits will no longer […]

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