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Have you applied for your Director Identification Number?
Director Identification Numbers are required to be held by directors of Australian companies, in a measure aimed at preventing fraudulent or false director identities and...Read more
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Container detention – how to avoid an unexpected bill
Container detention has always been one of those costs that those transporting goods by sea can fall foul of. However, in today’s climate, when transport...Read more
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Freight Increases – Time to review your contracts
As the world takes steps to emerge from the pandemic, the international transport industry remains under pressure with congested ports and other factors contributing to...Read more
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Posting on a Facebook account out of hours justified terminating an employee’s employment -Conrad John Corry v Australian Council of Trade Unions T/A ACTU [2022] FWC 288.
An employee at the ACTU, Mr Cory, posted on his Facebook account “out of hours” what was said to be offensive material. The ACTU terminated...Read more
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Border Force Warns Publication ≠ Compliance.
Is your Modern Slavery Statement Compliant? So, you've submitted your statement by the deadline and it's now on the Register. You might be feeling pretty...Read more
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To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question.
The conversation about whether employers should be able to force their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has been floated for a few months now...Read more
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You’ve left your Modern Slavery Statement to the last minute. What now?
The deadline for Modern Slavery Statements for reporting entities operating on the Australian Financial Year is fast approaching. All Australian businesses, or entities carrying out...Read more
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When can an employee dispute an employer’s decision to stand down the employee?
Sections 524 and 525 Fair Work Act 2009 (the ”Act”) provide that an employer may stand down an employee during a period in which the...Read more
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5 Myths about Independent Contractors
For years businesses have put themselves at risk by incorrectly engaging contractors and unfortunately many commonly held and incorrect myths about contractors live on. Businesses...Read more
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Fair Work Ombudsman Update: Underpayment Cases
Food & Retail Over $1.2 million recovered for food and retail workers Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fair Work Ombudsman recovered $1,212,727 in unpaid...Read more
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New Year, New Issues. Can employees be required to take a Covid Vaccine & more!
While 2020 is finally over, the pandemic is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and the introduction of the vaccine and return to...Read more
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Maritime transport & modern slavery – are you overlooking a key link in your supply chain?
Most global supply chains rely on maritime transport. Over 90% of the world’s trade is carried by sea, and sea transport remains the most cost-effective...Read more
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Modern Slavery And The Construction Industry
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s has partnered with KPMG Australia to produce a guide on Modern Slavery targeted at the Construction and Property Industry (the...Read more
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The task of preparing your company’s modern slavery statement has fallen on your desk. What now?
Start by downloading this simple fishbone diagram that we've created to help you get started with your Modern Slavery Reporting journey. Identify other key stakeholders...Read more
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Changes to the Federal Industrial Relations Framework.
Changes to the nation’s Industrial Relations framework as part of the strategy to ‘regrow’ jobs lost due to COVID-19 are expected to be put to...Read more
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Employer Risk Alert: Criminalisation of Wage Theft.
Queensland has joined Victoria in criminalising wage theft by enacting the Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Wage Theft) Amendment Act 2020 (“Wage Theft Act”). The...Read more
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Modern Slavery in Australian operations and supply chains – the hidden risks.
Following on from our recent post on the Modern Slavery Legislation, we discuss the importance of not overlooking supply chains here in Australia. With the...Read more
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Modern Slavery Legislation. A global problem now also a reputational risk for Australian businesses.
According to the Modern Slavery Index, globally there were 40.3 million people in slavery in 2016. As part of its response to this global issue,...Read more
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WorkPac v Rossato – the “casual” employee double-dipping decision.
The Federal Court ruling that has everyone talking, and what you need to know! On 20 May 2020 the Federal Court handed down a 277...Read more
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COVID-19 Series: The “New Normal” – Work Health & Safety Considerations for Employers and Employ
On 8 May 2020 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the National Cabinet's three-stage plan to ease restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It...Read more
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COVID-19 Series – JobKeeper Payments for Sole Traders & the Self Employed
The Federal Government’s JobKeeper Scheme has been made available to eligible Sole Traders, the self-employed and their employees. This article briefly discusses eligibility and how...Read more
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COVID-19 Series Self-Managed Super Funds and Commercial Property
Whilst Commercial Landlords have been provided guidance on what they can and cannot do during these uncertain times, there are an estimated 600,000 commercial properties...Read more
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COVID-19 Series – Safe Harbour Provisions. Are you protected?
With the economic impact of COVID-19 reaching almost all sectors of the Australian economy, directors should take time to consider their obligations in relation to...Read more
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Covid-19 Series – Rental Support for NSW Residential Landlords and Tenants
On Monday 13 April 2020 the NSW Government announced a raft of new temporary rental support measures for residential landlords and tenants affected by COVID-19....Read more
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Important amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 – What you need to know!
On 8 April 2020, the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Bill 2020 (the “Bill”) was passed by both houses of Federal Parliament....Read more
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Mandatory Commercial Tenancies Code during Covid-19
The Code will be legislated and regulated in each State and Territory in Australia, and will apply in circumstances where a tenant is an eligible...Read more
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COVID-19 – What Do Businesses / Employers Need to know?
The current spread of COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation and it begs the question, how prepared are we? If you’re unsure about what this...Read more
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Debt collection in Australia and tips to help you protect your business from illegal phoenix activit
You’ve probably heard of it and may even have a basic understanding, but what is illegal phoenix activity, and how can you avoid your business...Read more
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Masterchef Maestro hit with public shaming & a large bill for underpayment of wages – A warning
The Fair Work Ombudsman has entered into a Court-Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with George Calombaris’ MAdE Establishments following their self-disclosure of wide-scale underpayments in 2017, initially...Read more
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The Fair Work Ombudsman Announces New Targets – Is your business on the list?
The Fair Work Ombudsman announces 2019/2020 priorities and increase in enforcement measures. The Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker has announced the Ombudsman’s priorities for the...Read more
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Importing products into Australia? Thermomix – A case for implementing policies and training in your
The case of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Thermomix in Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 556, offers some key takeaways for companies that sell...Read more
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Pest and Building Reports: Are they worth the paper they’re written on?
Buying a house is a daunting experience. On top of locating a suitable property, and securing finance, would-be purchasers usually undertake any number of inspections...Read more
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The right to disconnect from work: Comparing the French experience with Australia
On 31 December 2016 French Parliament passed law aimed at preserving employees’ right to disconnect from work outside of working hours. Under the new legislation,...Read more
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Are you sitting on a ticking time bomb? Employers and HR Managers – take heed!
The NES, or National Employment Standards (“NES”) are a set of Australian employment entitlements that must be provided to all employees. They are the minimum...Read more
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The Dirty Underbelly of the Cleaning Industry
The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured back-payments for an underpaid employee in the cleaning industry, and has put measures in place to ensure that the...Read more
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The Workplace – Where Does It End?
The Night Caretaker - Company vicariously liable for ‘on call’ sexual assault – STU v JKL (Qld) Pty Ltd & Ors [2016] QCAT 505 An...Read more
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When bullying at work becomes a criminal offence
A Victorian Electrician has recently been charged with workplace bullying under Brodie’s law. For those who have not heard of Brodie’s law, the legislation was...Read more