Buying a business can be one of the most beneficial financial decisions you make. This is because you are not only purchasing the ability to practice in that business, but you are also purchasing an established client base, staff and location, which means you have essentially jumped into an already established business where all the...

It is understandable to fear the idea of bankruptcy and everything it may entail due to its ‘end of the world’ stigma. The path towards bankruptcy is not an easy one and should not be taken lightly due to the negative consequences involved.  However, it can offer relief, release you from debts and allow you...

While it is a priority for your business’ intellectual property (IP) to be adequately protected from copycats and infringers, it is equally important to protect your business in the post-employment context. Employees come and go, and with it they take their knowledge and skills acquired from one business to the next. Fortunately, there are several...

The ever-blurring lines between work and private life make it difficult for both employees and employers to identify where their rights, duties and obligations begin and end. Typically, when you walk out the door from your days’ work, you’re “off the clock” and your business is your own. However, some out of hours conduct may...

On 20 April 2021, The Defamation (Model Provisions) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (“the Bill”) was introduced into Parliament to amend parts of the Defamation Act 2005 (Qld).  In 2006, Queensland and the other states and territories adopted the Uniform Defamation Laws (“UDL”). Following the adoption, the law on defamation was substantially the same...

Starting a small business can be an exciting life choice.  Operating a small business offers many benefits, such as flexibility, independence, and the ability to be your own boss. However, there are things that all prospective business owners should consider before taking the plunge. This is because starting a business isn’t as easy as you...

Whether to hire workers as an employee or contractor is a commercial decision. Whatever decision you make, you’ll need to ensure that the relationship is clear cut. If the lines are blurred your business may: risk impeding the rights of a worker; and fail to meet your business’ tax and superannuation obligations. To understand those...

The superannuation guarantee (SG) is the minimum percentage of a salary that an employer must contribute to an employee’s superannuation fund. The percentage is legislated and controlled by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The current SG percentage is 9.5% of employees’ ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2021, the SG will increase from 9.5 %...

The Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021 has been passed through Parliament and came into effect on 27 March 2021.  The bill amended the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (“Act”) by implementing several reforms, including: the introduction of a definition for ‘casual employee’; the introduction of an ‘Casual Employee Information Statement’; the introduction of...

The first phase of Australia’s coronavirus vaccination program began on 22 February 2021. Approximately 1.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be distributed to frontline healthcare workers, hotel quarantine workers and aged care staff and residents over the next several weeks.   The second part of the first phase of vaccinations will be distributed to...