Dealing with the sale of contaminated land in Queensland – the importance of giving correct notice

The case of FKP Commercial Developments Pty Ltd v Albion Mill FCP Pty & Anor [2017] QSC 322 highlights the importance of ensuring the appropriate notice under section 408 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EPA) is given when disposing of land in Queensland which is contaminated. In May 2015, FKP Commercial Developments Pty […]

Readmore

Solar farm prevails over good quality agricultural land

In Mirani Solar Farm Pty Ltd v Mackay Regional Council & Anor [2018] QPEC 38, the Planning and Environment Court was required to determine whether a large scale solar farm development should be approved on land comprising Good Quality Agricultural Land (GQAL). The proposed solar farm was intended to be for a ‘limited’ period of […]

Readmore

Keeping it casual? Think again!

You have no doubt heard about the landmark decision in WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene[1], where the Full Court of the Federal Court (Full Court) found that a casual employee was a permanent employee entitled to annual leave payments. In this article we have summarised the decision and outlined the important practical implications for many […]

Readmore

Leasing Insider | AVC Operations Pty Ltd v Teley Pty Ltd (Building and Property) – [2018] VCAT 931

AVC Operations Pty Ltd (the Tenant) entered into an asset sale agreement with Wheatland Hotels Toorak Pty Ltd (the Assignee) for the sale of the “Bush Inn” business operated from a premises on Malvern Road, Toorak. The Tenant sought the consent of Teley Pty Ltd (the Landlord) to assign the lease for the business to the […]

Readmore

Leasing Insider | Sze Tu v Jam Studios Pty Ltd; Jam Studios Pty Ltd v Sze Tu [2018] NSWSC 868 (12 June 2018)

Margaret Sze Tu, Shiu How Sze Tu, Shiu Shing Sze Tu, Helen Sze Tu (the Landlord) were the registered proprietors and owners of premises known as Shop 5, 42-44 Queen Street, Campbelltown. The dispute between the parties related to an alleged lease to Jam Studios Pty Ltd (the Tenant), who was in possession of the […]

Readmore

Leasing Insider | Versus (Aust) Pty Ltd v A.N.H. Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] VCAT 859

Versus (Aus) Pty Ltd (the Tenant) leased retail premises located in Church Street, Brighton from A.N.H. Nominees Pty Ltd (the Landlord). The Tenant operated a lingerie business from the premises from June 2006 until the Tenant vacated in May 2011. The premises was affected by water and moisture ingress which resulted in excessive mould within […]

Readmore

Leasing Insider | PG Kazis Nominees P/L v Bakers II P/L & ORS [2018] SADC 48

PG Kazis Nominees Pty Ltd (the Landlord) entered into a retail lease with Bakers II Pty Ltd (the Tenant). The term of the lease was for 5 years commencing on 1 March 2003 with options for two further terms of five years each. The Tenant exercised the first option to renew which expired on 28 […]

Readmore

Leasing Insider | William Buck (Vic) Pty Ltd v Motta Holdings Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2018] VCAT 15

William Buck Pty Ltd (the Tenant) entered into a lease with Motta Holdings Pty Ltd (the Landlord) which required the tenant to pay land tax in respect of the premises. After entering into the lease and paying significant sums of land tax to the Landlord, the Tenant subsequently claimed that the lease fell under the Retail […]

Readmore

A snapshot of the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997

On 6 September 2018 the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2018 was passed by Parliament and included more than 130 reforms which aim to increase protection for renters. The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 (RTAA) is due to come into effect progressively and completely, by 1 July 2020 and will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 […]

Readmore

Royal Commission to be established to look at Australia’s aged care sector – what might providers expect?

In a joint statement with the Health Minister Greg Hunt and the Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the Government has made a decision to establish a Royal Commission into the Aged Care Sector. The announcement recognised that there are ‘thousands of extraordinary operators, facilities, care providers, nursing and other […]

Readmore

Victorian Municipal Councils to facilitate for finance rectification costs of combustible cladding

The Building Amendment (Registration of Building Trades and Other Matters) Bill 2018 introduces reforms to the Victorian Local Government Act 1989 to allow residential owners and owners corporations to access low cost finance to fund the cost of removing combustible cladding. Following the recommendations of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce, these reforms will introduce Cladding Rectification […]

Readmore

Two wrongs don’t make a legal right

Equal treatment is a fundamental principle of justice. This is well understood in the abstract, but what it might mean in practice and how it might be enforced is less clear, as is demonstrated by an important recent UK decision[1] that will be monitored closely by Australian lawyers.   The case As a result of […]

Readmore