Recent News
Can an employee on sick leave be terminated?
The short answer; yes, but in very limited circumstances. The law attempts to strike a balance between appropriate protections for employees being dismissed when they are temporarily unable to work and for employers to have the ability to dismiss an employee who can...
I want advice but I just can’t afford the fees?
Often in matrimonial cases there is a difference (sometimes a gulf) between the financial circumstances of one party compared to the other. One party might have accrued assets and income while the other party focused on the home and the children. This all works well...
Low and middle income tax offset changes now law – But will you get the $$
You will be entitled to some of the low and middle income tax offset if your individual taxable income is less than $126,000. Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) income thresholds These LMITO thresholds apply for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020,...
MADE Establishment back-pays workers $7.8 million
George Calombaris’s restaurant group, MADE Establishment Pty Ltd, has back-paid workers $7.8 million in wages and superannuation after entering into a Court-Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). The MADE Establishment was investigated by the...
From trainee to Business Manager
Every week in high school we used to get a day off to “study”. For a lot of my fellow classmates this meant going to the beach and hanging out. But I wanted to do something useful on my days off so when my teachers encouraged me to partake in a traineeship to further...
What happens to my super when I die?
For most Australians approaching retirement age, superannuation is a significant asset, and for many it is second in value only to their home. Clients are often surprised to learn that their superannuation does not automatically form part of their deceased estate and...
Get ready for a 3% minimum wage increase next week
The Fair Work Commission recently announced its decision to increase minimum wages by 3%. The new national minimum wage, which will take effect after this weekend on 1 July, will be $740.80 per week or $19.49 per hour. This is an increase of $21.60 per week up from...
Faulty Towers making a comeback to a screen near you!
As at the time of writing this article, most of you have probably already heard of the problems being faced by the owners of units within the Mascot Towers complex. The residents of the towers were evacuated from their building and were only able to take the...
Uber drivers not employees
Australia’s most popular rideshare app, Uber, has now been cleared of suspected breaches of workplace laws after the Fair Work Ombudsman completed an investigation into the company, finding their driver-partners are genuine independent contractors. The Ombudsman’s...
Expanding accelerated depreciation for small businesses
Small businesses can claim an immediate deduction for most depreciating assets purchased after 12 May 2015 and first used or installed ready for use for a business purpose: from 7.30pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 until 30 June 2020, if they cost less than $30,000 each from...
What happens if you don’t pay GST you owe the ATO?
Businesses that collect GST are required to pay it (less any credits) to the ATO either monthly, quarterly or annually depending on their turnover. Where the payment has not been made, the ATO will contact you. Interest, currently 8.96% p.a. calculated on a daily...
Cooperate or Pay the Price
A Melbourne toy shop is facing massive penalties in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s (FWO) first case using new legislation designed to protect vulnerable workers and penalise businesses for ‘serious contraventions’. The operator of the toy shop is accused of underpaying...
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