Intellectual Freedom: A Win for Free Speech on University Campusesby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers8 November 202122 February 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: Professor at James Cook University fired for comments criticising fellow colleagues regarding their climate change research and a breach of confidentiality in the… Read More »Intellectual Freedom: A Win for Free Speech on University Campuses
Hair Dressers – do not subject your business to a penalty by not paying penalty rates correctlyby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers3 November 202127 October 2022Important Changes to the Hair and Beauty Industry Commencing 3 November 2021 KEY TAKE-OUTS: Every 4 years, the Fair Work Commission carries out a 4… Read More »Hair Dressers – do not subject your business to a penalty by not paying penalty rates correctly
When Your Comments Online Can Cost Youby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers1 November 202119 July 2023KEY TAKE-OUT: Defamation laws are currently diversifying and changing with the consistent rise and popularity of social media. A recent High Court ruling exposes the… Read More »When Your Comments Online Can Cost You
New Directors ID System to Begin November: Are you ready?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers29 October 202115 April 2022KEY TAKE-OUTS: New Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) was established. Aims to streamline how businesses register, view and maintain business information. Directors must apply from… Read More »New Directors ID System to Begin November: Are you ready?
New Rules for Short Term Residential Accommodationby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers28 October 20214 April 2023From 1 November 2021, there will be new rules in place for Short Term Residential Accommodation (STRA). This will affect all STRA properties in New… Read More »New Rules for Short Term Residential Accommodation
“This Will Save Lives” – New Financial Support Announced for Survivors of Domestic Violenceby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers25 October 202131 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS: Two types of grants are announced under the federal and state governments. NSW announced almost $500 million will be allocated to supporting women… Read More »“This Will Save Lives” – New Financial Support Announced for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Leave That Makes You Want to Stay: The Evolution of Employee Leave Entitlementsby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers22 October 20216 March 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: In our contemporary society, many companies have introduced new avenues for paid leave entitlements, including fertility leave, parental leave and vaccination leave. These… Read More »Leave That Makes You Want to Stay: The Evolution of Employee Leave Entitlements
Lucky Number 7: Seven and 7-Eleven in Trademark War?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers21 October 202114 February 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: Seven West Media is demanding 7-Eleven remove their trademark over the number ‘7’. Trademarks are important to register your exclusive use of a… Read More »Lucky Number 7: Seven and 7-Eleven in Trademark War?
New Legislation Cracks Down on Under-Reporting of Superannuation in Divorce Proceedingsby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers19 October 202129 July 2025KEY TAKE OUTS: New legislation commencing from 1 April 2022 allows the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to release details of an individual’s superannuation information to… Read More »New Legislation Cracks Down on Under-Reporting of Superannuation in Divorce Proceedings
Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 2 – Western Sydney to the Illawarra Regionby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers18 October 202128 April 2022Transport for NSW is currently investigating transport corridors from Western Sydney to the Illawarra-Shoalhaven area. These corridors will assist with the traffic flow from the… Read More »Outer Sydney Orbital Stage 2 – Western Sydney to the Illawarra Region
When Words Hurt – Can I Sue for Defamation?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers14 October 202119 July 2023KEY TAKE-OUT: A personal injury claim is not limited to physical or psychological injuries. A person may be compensated when defamatory material causes damage to… Read More »When Words Hurt – Can I Sue for Defamation?
Baby on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Sues the Band: Who Owns the Photo?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers6 October 202114 February 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: Baby on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album cover sues the band for the unauthorised use of his photo. Ownership of a photo varies depending on… Read More »Baby on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Sues the Band: Who Owns the Photo?
Olivia Rodrigo Pays Millions to Paramore Over Copyright Breach: Could This Happen to You?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers6 October 202124 January 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: Copyright protects the use and distribution of works found to be property founded on a person’s creative skill and labour. Using someone else’s… Read More »Olivia Rodrigo Pays Millions to Paramore Over Copyright Breach: Could This Happen to You?
Shockingly, Only 14% Of Child Sexual Abuse Claims Believed to Be True by Judgesby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers5 October 202130 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS: Assessment of cases from 2012 to 2019 has revealed that only 14% of child sexual abuse claims were believed to be true by… Read More »Shockingly, Only 14% Of Child Sexual Abuse Claims Believed to Be True by Judges
The Long-Awaited 2021 Decision of Workpac: Time to Spring Clean Your Employment Contractsby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers30 September 20216 March 2024KEY TAKE-OUTS: There has recently been an exacerbated amount of attention on casual employees, (especially in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic), its subsequent payment schemes… Read More »The Long-Awaited 2021 Decision of Workpac: Time to Spring Clean Your Employment Contracts
Understanding the New Combined Drink and Drug Driving Offencesby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers27 September 202114 April 2023KEY TAKE-OUTS: The NSW Government has introduced a new section to the Road Transport Act 2013 which makes it an offence to drive with both… Read More »Understanding the New Combined Drink and Drug Driving Offences
Trademarks: What are they and why do I need one?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers20 September 202115 April 2022KEY TAKE-OUTS: Trademarks are a type of intellectual property right that protects your brand Trademarks are not automatic when you register your business name –… Read More »Trademarks: What are they and why do I need one?
What is transfer duty and how does it apply to property purchases in Queensland?by Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers14 September 20215 August 2022KEY TAKE-OUTS: What is stamp duty in Queensland? How is stamp duty calculated in Queensland? What are the types of concessions to stamp duty available?… Read More »What is transfer duty and how does it apply to property purchases in Queensland?
When Bitcoin Can Turn Into ‘No’ Coin: The Importance of Considering Your Cryptocurrency in Estate Planningby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers30 August 202127 October 2022Cryptocurrency is a new age investment option that is diversifying the traditional ways in which people would normally trade and invest. Digital currency such as… Read More »When Bitcoin Can Turn Into ‘No’ Coin: The Importance of Considering Your Cryptocurrency in Estate Planning
What A Sham! The Increased Sham Contracting Epidemicby Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers26 August 20211 November 2022KEY TAKE-OUTS: Sham contracting is where businesses knowingly, or recklessly, hire a worker as an independent contractor when they are instead (and in fact) an… Read More »What A Sham! The Increased Sham Contracting Epidemic