Publications
'In touch with the law' - previous newsletters
January 2008
Contents:
ONLINE CONTRACTS - ebay auction is binding
CULTURE OF COPYING - ‘Almost identical’ design infringes copyright
MADE IN CHINA - Getting what you paid for
RESPONSIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS - Employment agency’s duty of care
INTERNET LAWSUIT - Blogging the enemy
BUYING ASSETS - Structuring for capital gains tax
FOREIGN LAND - Who will get your estate?
LET THE DOGS IN - Disability laws protects right to bring assistance animals
LIQUIDATIONS - You can’t hide the assets
MISLEADING THE CUSTOMER - Online search engines taken to task
SELF-MANAGED SUPER - Be wary of financial pitfall
November 2007
Contents:
BUYING A PROPERTY - Protect against new trap between
exchange and completion
DISCRIMINATION - Laws apply to decisions made outside the country
DAMAGES CLAIMS - Limits on liability for injury
PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS - When is an employer negligent?
FIRST HOME
BUYER RELIEF - Trustee parent seen as guardian
LONG SERVICE LEAVE - Federal agreement overrides state entitlement
LAND TAX - Avoid costly and complex disputes
TREE TROUBLE - New law lets you go to court
CONTRACTORS - Who is held liable when someone gets hurt?
WILLS - Can I write my own?
July 2007
Contents:
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITIES - Each can be liable for totality of unpaid PAYG tax
FIRST HOME BUYER RELIEF - Trustee parent seen as guardian
BUILDERS NOT PAID - Can they claim your home as security?
LOSS OF PROFITS - Holding subcontractors responsible
SUPER’S MAGIC PUDDING - A plus for baby boomers
WORKPLACE - Vicarious liability of employer extends to rape
LIQUOR LICENCE - Red light on applications that fail to disclose traffic offences
WHEN A SALE IS A LOAN - Avoiding a taxable dividend
DISAPPOINTED VENDORS - Two contractual options for claims
SEPARATION - When the marriage is over but you can’t afford to live apart
April 2007
Contents:
MISLEADING CONDUCT - Employees found personally liable
BUYING AND SELLING PROPERTY - Who bears the risk of damage?
PARENTING PLANS - New laws to share looking after children
FINANCE - Partners’ bitter end if timing is wrong
TRANSITION OVER - Work Choices record-keeping to be enforced
LANDLORDS - Are you covered for damage caused by subtenants?
INJURED EMPLOYEE - What penalties for an employer with no insurance?
FARM DEBT - When is a rural property not a farm?
LATENT INJURIES - What is the timeframe to make a claim?
COMPENSATION - Employment must ‘significantly’ contribute to the disease
Contents:
DISABILITY TRUSTS - Window of opportunity to convert existing trusts
PLANNING AHEAD - Enduring guardians can help if you lose capacity
VICTIMISATION - Health and safety watchdogs given protection
TAX TIPS - Timing can save you money
WARNING OF RISK - Would you have acted differently?
SIMPLIFIED SUPER - Broad changes established
DANGER AT WORK - Directors’ criminal liability for harm to employees
BUSH PRESSURE - Complexity of land use and regulations
FINANCIAL DROUGHT - Tax relief and tax danger in defaulting loans
SMOKE ALARMS - Warning notice required on contracts for sale of land
July 2006
Contents:
WORKPLACE CHOICES - New legislation on industrial relations
LICENSED PREMISES - What liability from too much to drink?
BUILDING CERTIFICATION New board to regulate building industry
DEFAMATION - A quick apology may be the best option
TRUSTS - Avoid capital gains tax when you transfer assets
PYRAMID SELLING - When is it (legal) multi-level marketing?
BUYER BEWARE - Look at information ‘for what it is worth’
SEXUAL HARASSMENT - Where does the workplace end?
January 2006
Contents:
SHOP LEASES - New protections and obligations for retailers and landlords
RETURN OF DEPOSITS - Can you get your money back?
SUPER - Splitting the nest egg
SAVING TAX - Financial planning after a marriage breakdown
TAX FRAUD - It can mean going to jail
VOLUNTEERS - When is a person liable for damages?
PROPERTY DISPUTES - Are there differences for same-sex couples?
GET THE PRICE RIGHT - ‘Slash reductions’ claimed must be real savings
November 2005
Contents:
SURVEILLANCE AT WORK - New law requires employers to inform employees
CHILD MAINTENANCE - New law will give right to recover wrongly paid support
SPORTS DANGER - Tackle seen as an injury with intent
TAX AVOIDANCE - Danger for directors in illegal tax advantage schemes
MISLED ON PAY - Claims of potential earnings must be realistic
STRESS - Onus on employee to send early warning signals
SNIFFER DOGS - Evidence from over-keen pooch excluded
SUB-DIVISION - Vendor’s obligation to register the plan
RADIO WAVES - Owners and managers responsible for exposure risk
JOINT VENTURES - How much do you have to share with your partners?
November 2004
Contents:
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - Who owns the rights to employee inventions?
CONSTRUCTION - Owner-builders given greater scope
ROAD ACCIDENTS - What compensation am I entitled to?
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS - Strong-arm tactics targeted in building industry reform
SECURITY - Businesses held responsible if staff are attacked
VENDOR DUTY - Exemption for financiers, extention for deceased estates
DE FACTOS - Am I entitled to a property settlement?
WATER - Precious resource under new management
