Companies need to consider if security interests in their project assets should be registered on the new PPS register.

The court will not permit disclosure of documents until after parties have prepared and exchanged witness statements.

On 15 September 2008, new laws will commence requiring DAs and rezoning applications to be accompanied by a declaration disclosing political donations and certain gifts over $1000.

Employers need to consider whether they intend to shut down their business over the Christmas and New Year period.

Confused about the scope of credit representatives’ authorities? Can credit reps lodge deals off panel? Many credit reps have been appointed by aggregators or master brokers. Most brokers operate through a family company (primarily to avoid employee/employer issues). In these cases both the company and the individual need to be appointed as credit reps. This differs from the Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) regime, because the AFSL regime does not have the concept of ‘intermediary

On 16 June 2010, the Attorney-General Robert McClelland, introduced the Civil Dispute Resolution Bill into Parliament. The Bill's purpose is to promote a move away from the often stressful, expensive adversarial culture of litigation by requiring litigants to take genuine steps to resolve their legal disputes before commencing court proceedings.

On 3 June 2010, the Minimum Wage Panel of Fair Work Australia handed down its inaugural annual wage review determination, awarding an increase of $26.00 per week to the rates of pay for employees covered by modern awards and Division 2B enterprise awards. Importantly, the Minimum Wage Panel did not increase the rates of pay for employees covered by Division 2B State awards.

Recent decision of Walton in Queensland gives respondents additional defence to payment claims.

A contract will often impose an obligation on a party to use best endeavours or reasonable endeavours in relation to some act or thing eg. an obligation to "obtain finance".

An employer must ensure that the investigative process is robust and that all involved are given procedural fairness.

A recent case decided in the NSW Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) has served as a warning for operators to ensure that the formula for variations in recurrent charges are set out clearly and unambiguously in their village contracts in compliance with the Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW) (Act) and the Retirement Village Regulations 2009 (NSW) (Regulations).

Government to explore options for extension of unfair contract terms to insurance.

Since its launch in 2002, the Green Star Certification scheme, which evaluates the environmental design and achievements of buildings, has proven its value in the property industry. However, despite its popularity there are a number of significant problems with the standard form Green Star Certification Agreement.

The Federal Government’s proposed banking reforms announced on 12 December 2010 placed covered bonds back on the Australian agenda as a more transparent and reliable source of debt funding for Approved Deposit Institutions (ADIs).

A recent Senate report discusses developing a robust social finance and investment structure in Australia.

The standard form contract will be mandatory and operators must use the standard form for all new village contracts.

Treasury released exposure draft for legislation to establish the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.

Minister releases a discussion paper for a better understanding of retirement villages in Victoria.

On 14 September 2010, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) refused to extend legal professional privilege (LPP) to internal company communications with in-house lawyers in the case of Akzo Nobel Chemicals and Akcros Chemicals v Commission and Others (C-550/07 P, 14 September 2010).

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has issued a public consultation paper and invited feedback on a proposal to allow listed companies to issue and trade in non-voting ordinary shares.