The Federal Court has determined that a bargaining representative can be appointed by an employer to bargain for agreements under the Fair Work Act without any formal appointment documents being drawn up. Under the Act, an appointment must be "in writing", including the date of the appointment. The Court has determined that so long as the date of the appointment can be discerned from the document, the appointment does not need to have any particular formality. It must also be in a form that can

Standard contracts for NSW retirement villages will be mandatory for contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2013.

It must be very tempting for marketing departments of financial institutions to push the boundaries on advertising.

The PPSA is set to go live on 30 January 2012, but it may be delayed further.

Customs and the Department of Immigration are to merge into one "super agency".

Further to our E-Alerts dated 24 and 29 October 2008, the Civil Liability Legislation Amendment Act 2008 No 84 commenced on 12 November 2008.

Following the High Court decision in Ice TV v Nine Network Australia, there is a strong argument that some telephone directories, train timetables, football fixtures, television program schedules and other similar compilations of factual information are not protected by copyright, or that there is far less scope for protection of such compilations than previously accepted.

In August 2008, there were announcements that Australia and New Zealand had struck a deal to establish a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN nations. In the ensuing period, there have been additional negotiations to try and resolve outstanding issues and finalise the document.

The abrupt cancellation of the scheme has meant that many importers who had purchased products to sell to installers of insulation now do not want that product and have "walked away" from their contractual commitments leaving large numbers of containers filled with insulation in Customs control or storage around the country.

As our 3rd largest export market and 4th largest trading partner, the benefits to Australian businesses are substantial.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has confirmed the commencement of the MAFTA as at 1 January 2013.

Securities are imposed if Customs believe that the imports represent an immediate threat to the Australian industry.

The High Court clarifies and limits the applicability of the Corporations Act in the proportionate liability regime.

As reported in our E-Alert sent out on 7 May 2010 in recent a Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal of New South Wales ("Tribunal") decision the Tribunal held that container detention fee charges by an Australian agent of an international shipping company was an unenforceable penalty.

The impact of the Building Energy Efficiency Act is far reaching.

The planning legislation is regarded as regulatory in nature, so liability for offences is considered strict or absolute.

In order to combat climate change and global warming, the Victorian Government has announced five star standards for home renovations and relocations.

Earlier this year, the Full Federal Court clarified GST liability in relation to certain motor vehicle incentive payments.

Interim report by Productivity Commission has now been released.

The PoMC must pay for an annual Port Licence Fee, which it says would effectively be passed on to shipping companies.