Current Articles 

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When employees bolt with your business
(December 2007)

Many business owners are fearful that their employees may depart with copies of their client details, trade secrets, "know-how" and fellow employee contact details, only to set up business in competition.

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 Buying a new franchise?  Top tips
(December 2007)

Franchising continues to boom - understandably, being the purchase of a ready-to-go business system, with back-up support and an established product, name and logo.  But franchises have a dark side too.  Requiring a large investment of time and money over many years, it is not uncommon for a franchisee, only a year or two in, to be floundering because promises of support, customer referrals and revenue have been vastly overstated.

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Recent changes relating to the employment of overseas workers.
(April 2008)

The past 12 months or so has seen a flurry of activity in relation to the Subclass 457 Visa category, culminating in a series of significant changes to the Regulations governing the terms and conditions upon which overseas skilled workers may be employed in Australia - with more changes yet to come.

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Borrowing by Super Funds.
(April 2008)

As many would be aware, recent changes to the superannuation laws now enable super funds to borrow money to purchase assets and thereby gear up their holdings - a concession likley to appeal to many clients.

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457 Visa Scheme - recent changes and what they mean.
(June 2008)

Recent adverse publicity to the 457 Visa Scheme has resulted in a number of amendments to the rules, some of which involve criminal sanctions for breach. Employers need to be aware of how those changes might affect them.

 To view the full article click here.

 Update on Government Home Buyers Benefits and Duty Concessions
(August 2008)

First home owners grant and bonus.

The first home bonus has been extended to offer an additional $3,000.00 grant to purchase a newly constructed home for those eligible for the first home bonus in regional Victoria.

To view the full article click here.

Owners Corporations (Some tips on living with the new Owners Corporation Act 2006) 

On 31 December 2007 new legislation, the Owners Corporation Act 2006, came into operation.

What is an Owners Corporation?

An Owners Corporation is a separate legal entity which is created when a plan of subdivision creates an area referred to a common property.  They were formerly called body corporates.

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Surprise decrease to the penalty interest rate
(September 2008)

After remainaing stable at 12% since 2006, last week the Victorian State Government announced that the official penalty interest rate will decrease to 11% per annum from 1 September 2008.

To view the full article click here.

The Relationships Act 2008 (Vic)
(November 2008)

The Relationships Act 2008 (Vic) is due to come into force within the next few months.  The Act deals with the way in which parties' property and financial resources will be distributed, in the event of the breakdown of the relationship.  Parties in domestic relationships (formerly known as de facto relationships) should be aware of the changes to the existing laws and may wish to contract out of the new legislation by entering into a Relationship Agreement.

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