
Standard form contracts with small businesses – users beware
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has provided protection for small businesses from unfair contract terms in business-to-business standard form contracts. Find out what types of clauses have been affected by the changes and are likely to raise concerns under the unfair contract terms law.

The Insolvency Law Reform Act 2016 (Cth) – how it is being implemented in practice
Although some provisions of the Insolvency Law Reform Act 2016 (Cth) did not come into effect until 1 September 2017, recent cases demonstrate that the courts have found certain deferred provisions apply from 1 March 2017.

Potato, potahto, plebiscite, survey – will we call the whole thing off?
The Federal Government’s plans to give Australians the right to vote on legalising same-sex marriage has changed from a compulsory plebiscite to a voluntary postal survey. Find out what this change means for marriage equality in Australia.

Are you eligible to join the class action against the makers of the Nurofen Specific Pain range?
The recent class action issued against pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser, the makers of Nurofen Specific Pain range of tablets, is an example of how class actions can be used to take legal action on behalf of a larger group of persons in relation to a common dispute or injury.

To Park or not to Park: The Towing Industry in Queensland
In May 2017, the Queensland Government announced a three-month inquiry into the towing industry and the removal of parked vehicles from publicly accessible private carparks and private roads that are not currently covered by the existing legislation. This article outlines the law as it currently stands in Queensland.

Understanding which unregistered interest has priority under a credit agreement in the event of default or liquidation
When supplying goods or services to a customer on credit, it is important for businesses to be aware of the circumstances in which competing unregistered interests may have priority should a customer’s assets be unable to cover all debts to all creditors in the event of liquidation.

Differences between the Queensland and NSW conveyancing process
While buying and selling property across Australia generally follows the same process, there are some substantial differences in the conveyancing process in Queensland and New South Wales that buyers and sellers should be aware of when transferring ownership of property in either state.

New changes to foreign resident capital gains withholding tax
New changes to the foreign resident capital gains withholding regime apply to certain taxable property transactions within Australia. These include new obligations on buyers and sellers of real property for contracts entered into from 1 July 2017.

Common Conveyancing Pitfalls in Queensland
The conveyancing process is complex and involves a number of pitfalls that buyers and sellers can easily fall prey to if they are not familiar with buying and selling property in Queensland. Let DSS Law help guide you through the process from preparing contracts and documents to advising you on the legal implications and risks involved.

Key changes to penalty rates for Sunday, public holiday and early/late night trading
From 1 July 2017, changes to penalty rates in some awards for the hospitality, fast food, restaurant, pharmacy and retail industries will take effect reducing wage payments for some permanent and casual employees.