WWC Checks – changes to strengthen protections but is a WWC Check enough for schools?

From 1 August 2017 changes came into effect to increase the protection for children by broadening the type of contact with children for which a working with children check is required. However, schools should carefully consider whether in all cases relying only on a WWC Check is enough. Prior to the changes, a WWC Check […]

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Statutory Consumer Guarantees: Lessons from Holden

Following the ACCC’s announcement on 26 July 2017 of proceedings against Ford, the ACCC issued a media release on 3 August 2017 announcing that it has accepted a court enforceable undertaking offered by Holden to address the ACCC’s concerns about Holden’s compliance with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and, in particular, the ACL’s consumer guarantees […]

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Games of skill – not much to them, right?

Running your comp as a game of skill has many advantages, given that the gaming authorities don’t need to get involved. However, you may be surprised to know that there are a few things to consider (legally speaking) in planning and executing your skill comp successfully. To view full size article, click here.  

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Gadens proud to be part of the Sunshine Coast Council solar farm project

Gadens is proud to have acted for the Sunshine Coast Council from the very beginning with the ground breaking Sunshine Coast Solar Farm. The second largest solar farm of its kind in Queensland, it has set a new precedent for renewable energy generation, particular for local government. The Gadens construction, infrastructure and procurement team, led […]

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Changes to a staged residential subdivision in Burnside were considered to be permissible changes

Highgate Developments Pty Ltd v Sunshine Coast Regional Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the matter of Highgate Developments Pty Ltd v Sunshine Coast Regional Council [2017] QPEC37 which involved a permissible change request made by Highgate Developments Pty Ltd to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council […]

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Council was ordered to pay the applicant’s costs insofar as it related to a hearing to determine whether conditions ought to be included in a development approval for a residential development in Morayfield

The Planning and Environment Court in the matter of Wust v Moreton Bay Regional Council (No. 2) [2017] QPEC 36 made an order requiring the Moreton Bay Regional Council to pay Brian Wust’s costs of the appeal to the extent that the costs related to the disputed conditions. Otherwise, each party was to bear their […]

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Denial of procedural fairness – remit to a new Committee

Amos v Brisbane City Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Amos v Brisbane City Council [2017] QPEC 33 which involved an appeal by Edward Amos against the decision of the Building and Development Committee to allow the Brisbane City Council to give him an […]

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Approval of a subdivision of productive agricultural or rural land in Mothar Mountain

The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Wason v Gympie Regional Council [2017] QPEC 34, which involved an appeal by Lee Wason against the Gympie Regional Council’s decision to refuse a development application for a development permit for reconfiguring a lot (1 into 2) on land located in Mothar Mountain. […]

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Character housing is important to the community

Althaus & Anor v Brisbane City Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Althaus & Anor v Brisbane City Council [2017] QPEC 41 which involved an appeal by Nathan and Laura Althaus against the Brisbane City Council’s decision to refuse their development application seeking a […]

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Victorian Government implements first stage of environmental protection overhaul

The Victorian Government recently introduced a bill to parliament as the first stage of the long anticipated overhaul to Victorian environmental protection legislation.   1. Background In 2016, an independent ministerial advisory committee conducted an inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). As previously reported by Partner, Meg Lee, and lawyer, Linda Choi, the […]

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Changes to the Domestic Building Contracts Regulations

Effective from 1 August 2017 there will be a number of changes to regulations under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) (Act).   Major Domestic Building Contracts Major domestic building contract is now defined as a domestic building contract where the contract sum is more than $10,000 (previously $5,000).1 If the contract sum for […]

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CB Cold Storage

The Victorian Court of Appeal has now confirmed Croft J’s decision in CB Cold Storage Pty Ltd v IMCC Group Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 23 that a lease of a wholesale cold storage facility is a “retail premises lease” caught by the provisions of the Retail Leases Act (RLA), dismissing an appeal by the landlord […]

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