There’s nothing quite like buying your first home. However it can also be a very confusing and stressful time if you don’t budget for all the costs involved. The checklist below can help in identifying some of these hidden costs. 1.Loan pre-approval As a first step you should choose your home loan provider and obtain...Read More

The Fair Work Commission recently ordered an employer (Chesson) to pay over $20,000 in compensation to a former employee (Knutson) for refusing to implement flexible work arrangements. Knutson worked for Chesson for three years with consistent work hours each week. In September 2017, Chesson proposed to extend the working day by 30 minutes in a...Read More

The Fair Work Commission has handed down the Annual Wage Review Decision announcing a 3% increase to the minimum wage and Award rates from the first full pay period after 1 July 2019. The National minimum wage will be increased to $19.49 per hour and $740.80 per week, being a $21.60 weekly increase. Increases will...Read More

New changes to residential lease laws in NSW have passed through the two Houses of Parliament which when implemented, will have a substantial impact on both tenants and landlords. These changes include the following: protections for domestic violence victims such as early termination of leases where required;mandatory lease-break fees calculated according to the remaining lease...Read More

Have you or are you thinking about using an independent contractor or subcontractor in your business? It may be time to put in place a contractor agreement to provide a clear understanding of the agreement between you and the contractor/subcontractor and to protect your interests. Any such agreement should be tailored to your business and...Read More

Buying off the plan? Were you aware of the new legislative amendments below effective from 1 December 2018? vendors must provide purchasers with proposed plans and relevant details for the Property before contracts for sale can be signed;they will also be required to provide the purchasers with the final plans and notice of any changes...Read More

Are you aware of the new amendments for flexible working arrangements? From 1 December 2018, when responding to flexible work arrangements employers will need to ensure that they: discuss the request with the employee;make a genuine attempt to negotiate an agreement with the employee, taking into consideration their specific needs and circumstances;if refusing a request,...Read More

Did you know, in certain circumstances, you may now be required to transfer your casual employees to permanent positions? Modern awards have been amended to include casual conversion clauses. These clauses apply where a casual has: worked for at least 12 months for the employer; worked an ongoing regular pattern of hours; and has a...Read More

There are some key differences between employees and independent subcontractors. It is important for both employers and employees to be able to identify these, particularly because there are tax and superannuation implications for the different working relationships. Penalties can apply when workers are not employed correctly. The following checklist will help you decide what situation...Read More

Does this sound familiar? The children have all moved out, and you’re enjoying the space, but it’s really a bit big for just the two of you. The garden is looking beautiful, but it takes a lot of time to maintain – time that you could be spending with the grandchildren. You may be ready...Read More