Meredith Dorham Legal Articles Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Government-Releases-Proposed-Laws-and-Plan-for-National-Employment-Standards.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Government-Releases-Proposed-Laws-and-Plan-for-National-Employment-Standards.html Government Releases Proposed Laws and Plan for National Employment Standards This week (11 February 2008) the government released the Bill containing its proposed amendments to the Workplace Relations Act. If the Bill passes into law it will usher in the transition to a new system of industrial relations and workplace law. The Bill contains matters that had been foreshadowed in pre-election statements and announcements by the new government since it came to power last year. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Getting-Control-of-a-Domain-Name.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Getting-Control-of-a-Domain-Name.html Getting Control of a Domain Name Question: If someone has already registered a Domain Name that is similar to my business name or trade marks, is there is anything that I can do about it without having to take expensive Court action? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Negotiating-Leases.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Negotiating-Leases.html Negotiating Leases Are you a tenant or a landlord? Do you usually sign a Heads of Agreement or Letter of Offer for Lease that is intended to be subject to a formal lease being executed? If so, beware! You may be about to bind yourself to a valid lease the moment you sign the Heads of Agreement or Letter of Offer for Lease. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Protecting-Your-Business-Name.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Protecting-Your-Business-Name.html Protecting Your Business Name One of the best marketing strategies is to have a recognisable and well respected business name. Word of mouth can bring you much work. So how do you protect your business name from a competitor using that name, or using a deceptively similarly name in order to mislead potential customers. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Amendments-to-Small-Business-Protections-under-the-Trade-Practices-Act.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Amendments-to-Small-Business-Protections-under-the-Trade-Practices-Act.html Amendments to Small Business Protections under the Trade Practices Act Section 51AC of the Trade Practices Act (TPA) protects small business by prohibiting a corporation from engaging in unconscionable conduct when dealing in supply or acquisition of goods or services with any person or corporation, other than a listed company. It is specifically targeted at small business consumers. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Directors-Liability-Notices-from-the-Australian-Taxation-Office.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Directors-Liability-Notices-from-the-Australian-Taxation-Office.html Director’s Liability Notices from the Australian Taxation Office The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is now taking an aggressive position in relation to unpaid company taxes. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Recent-Decisions--Retail-Leases.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Recent-Decisions--Retail-Leases.html Recent Decisions: Retail Leases There have been recent decisions in the New South Wales Administrative Decisions Tribunal (Tribunal) which are of significance. It is important that you take into consideration the following aspects to avoid disputes between landlords and tenants. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Labors-Ten-Minimum-Standards.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Labors-Ten-Minimum-Standards.html Labor's Ten Minimum Standards Federal Labor’s plan for a new industrial relations system includes a significant expansion in the number of minimum employment standards. At the time of the Workchoices changes in March 2006, the previous government introduced employment standards into federal law regarding hours of work, annual leave, personal/carers leave and parental leave. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Unfair-Dismissal-under-Federal-Labor-Government.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Legal/2103/Unfair-Dismissal-under-Federal-Labor-Government.html Unfair Dismissal under Federal Labor Government As outlined in its policy announcement prior to the election, Federal Labor has proposed changes to the unfair dismissal laws. We expect that the new government will commence to enshrine these changes in legislation early next year. However, things are not certain.