Legal
Do your know your obligations about training in the workplace? Any idea what ignorance of those obligations could cost you? And what it might cost employees, perhaps serious injury or even their lives? Matthew Hourn guides us through the crucial clauses. Employees have a legal right to be sufficiently trained to undertake their role and […]
As the Asian Tiger economies continue rapid industrialisation and high percentage GDP growth, together with expanded demand for foreign products and services, their attractiveness for Australian exporters grows apace. And while there may be strong temptation for Australian manufacturers and service providers to jump in ‘boots and all’ to capitalise on the demand, one area […]
Stephen Spring delves deeper into the leasing contract, and the rights and obligations of tenant and landlord under a lease agreement Yes, leases can be boring, but for most retailers, a lease is probably the most important document they posses. They can appear complicated and hard to read, but all leases are based on the […]
Treasurer Peter Costello launched a Productivity Commission inquiry into retail tenancy leases following concerns expressed by Fran Bailey, Minister for Small Business and Tourism. The federal inquiry comes in response to Minister Bailey’s comment about commercial leases for small business tenants. "Small business tenants are telling me that they are worried about the difficulties they […]
With unions and the Federal Government’s advertising mixed messages on the introduction of the new Work Choices Act*, the Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC) has set the record straight and published an easy to understand guide on employment and the law in NSW. Hot Topics 61: Employment and the Law is now available in all […]
Problems arising between retail tenants and landlords are becoming increasingly commonplace. The following are some suggestions from the NSW Retail Tenancy Unit on what to do if you have an issue. Have You Got A Retail Tenancy Problem? Perhaps the following suggestions will assist you resolve it. Our experience shows that the people who are […]
How is O.H.S. affected in the new national I.R. system? Alyson Warnock looks at how changes will impact on small and medium businesses around the country The Workplace Relations Amendment (Workchoices) Act 2005 became law on March 27, 2006. This legislation was designed to create a single national IR system using the corporations’ power to […]
Why having a Will is a crucial part of life for all small businesses If you’re one of the 442,800 small business owners in NSW, you’re probably busy – whether you are running it by yourself, with a partner or with other family members. During this year’s Good Will Week (October 14-20) organisers Public Trustee NSW, […]
Leasing a retail space is a daunting task and can present a minefield of options and crucial decisions that could make or break your business. Stephen Spring takes us through the first major step in the process to reveal location and leasing go hand in hand The three Ls of real estate are well known—location, […]
A new website has been launched to help make it a little easier for businesses to create and manage Australian Workplace agreements. Peopleinsite ( http://www.peopleinsite.com.au ) aims to be an easily accessible tool that helps businesses of any size reduce the administration and compliance costs when creating AWA's. The team behind the site claim it’s […]
Employment contracts can be a useful tool for some businesses, but aren’t always necessary – Martin Carrick takes us through what is involved with such agreements, for who and when they’re relevant, and new considerations under WorkChoices Employers sometimes ask whether it’s necessary to have a written employment contract with each employee. More recently, this […]
Once your business has outgrown its home or serviced office, the choice to lease or buy a commercial property will be crucial. Rebecca Spicer weighs the options, taking into account financial and practical considerations. Whether you’re starting out or looking to relocate, the decision to buy or lease commercial property in the area you’ve chosen […]
In March this year, WorkChoices celebrated its first birthday. Matthew Hourn takes us through some of the biggest controversies to date, and what to expect in the future. WorkChoices has been described as the most comprehensive and significant change to Industrial Relations in Australia for almost 100 years. The new legislation is supported by some […]
How do you protect your business from the almost endless list of disputes that can land you in court and can destroy your business? Matthew Hourn reports. In today’s litigious society, for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) even the smallest disputes, whether with competitors or consumers, can be potentially fatal to your business. As an […]
Intellectual property is the core of many businesses these days. But what exactly is IP, and how can you identify, protect, and maximise its value? Tony Ward looks at these issues and the crucial aspect of timing—when it is too late or too early to protect intellectual property. Intellectual property (IP) is an umbrella term […]
Employee share ownership plans are no longer reserved just for large, publicly listed companies. As Rebecca Spicer discovers, they can be a useful tool for any business wanting to attract, retain and motivate staff. It’s no secret that the skills shortage is crippling many industries. And so, tools and strategies that attract and keep key […]
How do you protect your intellectual property (I.P.) overseas, particularly in those countries with no formal protection systems? Catherine Logan leads us through the maze of what is covered where, what is not, where you can find help to choose the best approach when exporting, and who can help when your I.P. is infringed in […]
It’s easy to get carried away in the excitement of merging, selling or acquiring a business. But, as Carlo Pasqualini warns, if you don’t do your homework before mergers and acquisitions you probably won’t realise expectations and the deal might even be disastrous. Every day it seems there’s a new corporate takeover with media headlines […]
All the links you're likely to need when considering your legal obligations IP Australia IP Australia provides and administers intellectual property rights within Australia. The agency regulates patents, trade marks, designs, plant breeder’s rights and copyrights and provides a wealth of information on the importance of intellectual property for your business. Lawlink New South Wales […]
What is the perfect structure for your business? Peter Bembrick outlines the advantages and disadvantages for each of the main types of business structure. Identifying the best structure for your business from the start can help avoid the cost and difficulties of changing it later. There are a number of considerations when deciding on the […]
