Reading RoomOn Friday, 20 January 2012, the federal government released a report prepared by Maddocks for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
The report – "The Role of Regulation in Facilitating or Constraining Adaptation to Climate Change for Australian Infrastructure" – examines the regulatory frameworks affecting some of Australia's most important …
The interpretation of clause 52.29 and what works constitute an alteration to an access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 has been the subject of some tension between VicRoads, developers and local councils.
In Grant & Ors v Darebin City Council [2011] VCAT 2364, the Tribunal considered a preliminary question as to whether a permit was triggered under clause 52.29. Specifically, …
Welcome to the final Prosecutions Update for 2011. Please click here to view the November prosecution results.
Our seminar, Getting it right - why does it matter? (held on 1 December 2011) was attended by over 60 prosecution officers. Among the matters considered were the vexed issues around 'powers of entry'.
Welcome to the final edition of the Quarterly Sustainability & Climate Change Update for 2011. Next year is likely to be an exciting and challenging time for participants in this space. Among other things, the carbon price regime will come into effect in the middle of the year, significant funding will become available for a range of activities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions …
The festive season is a common time for clients to be ‘ambushed’ by a security of payment claim. With many offices shutting down over the festive season, the risk of failing to detect the service of a payment claim under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (the Act) and not serving a payment schedule within …
Welcome to the Summer edition of the Fire and Emergency Services Update. We hope you all find the articles interesting and relevant to your work.
2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Maddocks in a number of ways and we are currently planning our 2012 seminar series for all our Emergency Service Organisation (ESO) clients. If you have any particular topics you would like addressed, please let us know.
Panel contracts or 'standing offers' are commonly used by principals for the provision of engineering services to plan and design projects, as and when required, over a specified period. They can achieve substantial savings and benefits by reducing purchasing, administration and transactional costs. However, uncertainty can arise as to a consultant's liability …
Please find attached our latest Prosecutions Update. We encourage you to check our updates to determine whether your current matters involve persons who have been brought before the court on prior planning, food, health or other matters. This is one way of working out whether your matter involves a person who may have prior findings of guilt for similar matters.
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.
Following a recent Federal Court of Australia decision, principals (including local governments) should take notice that prohibited cartel conduct occurs in the Australian construction industry and must be aware of the indicators of non-genuine tender prices and the ways to avoid paying an inflated price for a project. Contractors must inform themselves of statutory provisions that prohibit …
