Reading RoomThe Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (PPSA) and related Personal Property Securities Register (Register) commenced on Monday, 30 January 2012. As advised previously, the PPSA will enable certain types of security interests, which were previously not able to be registered, to become a registrable security interest.
All existing …
The Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011 (Cth), which will enact legislation necessary to implement the Australia-United States Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty, was introduced into the Commonwealth House of Representatives on 2 November 2011. An exposure draft of Regulations under the Bill is due for release before the end of the year. As with the Bill, industry will have an opportunity to comment on the Regulations. The Maddocks Defence team would be happy to assist any clients wishing to participate in this process.
Telecommunication carriers may soon be able to install a greater variety of telecommunication infrastructure for the National Broadband Network (NBN) without being subject to a number of state and local government laws, including planning approvals. These changes are proposed by the Federal Government through amendments to the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997 (Determination) and the Telecommunications Regulations 2001 (Regulation), and are designed to facilitate the timely and efficient rollout of the NBN.
The proposed changes are open for public comment until 7 September 2011.
On 10 July 2011, the Prime Minister released the Federal Government's 'Clean Energy Future Plan' (Plan).
The centrepiece of the Plan is the introduction of a carbon price starting at $23 per tonne of carbon pollution on 1 July 2012. This price will be payable by Australia's 500 most carbon-intensive businesses in the stationary energy, …
ECO-Buy, Australia’s green purchasing experts, and Maddocks have put together an essential half-day forum for Directors and Managers of eligible* companies.
As of 1 January 2011, suppliers and manufacturers will need to understand and have implemented new practices and procedures in line with the new and overhauled Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The Commonwealth Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has released an Exposure Draft of a proposed Contract Template Selection and Tailoring Guide, and has invited industry to comment.
From 1 January 2011, suppliers of consumer goods and related services will be required to make a report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) if they become aware a consumer product they supplied or serviced has caused, or may have caused, serious injury, illness or death. Mandatory safety reporting was introduced via the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No 2) 2010 (Act) in an attempt to identify significant consumer product hazards in a timely fashion.
The Federal Government, by Trade Practices (Industry Codes - Franchising) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No.1) (Cth) (2010 Amendments), has made a number of changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct (Code). These amendments apply to disclosure documents issued and franchise agreements entered into on or after 1 July 2010.
To read the full …
The Tax Laws Amendment (Transfer of Provisions) Act 2010 was given Royal Assent on 29 June 2010 and makes some important changes to the director penalty notices (DPN) regime.
