In the media – National
Strengthening Australia's foreign investment
framework
The Government is seeking views on proposed reforms to strengthen
Australia's foreign investment framework, particularly around
residential real estate and agriculture. This discussion paper
forms the basis of the Government's consultation on reforms to
the foreign investment framework (25 February 2015).
More...
Foreign Investment in Australia's Residential Sector
could be discouraged through excessive fees
The Australian Government's Options Paper on Foreign
Investment could send negative signals to offshore investors
through excessive fee charges, says the Urban Taskforce (25
February 2015).
More...
Proposed foreign investment fees on the high
side
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has welcomed the
Government's resolve to strengthen compliance and enforcement
of foreign investment in Australian residential real estate
following the release today of its Options Paper (25 February
2015).
More...
Government to strengthen Australia's foreign
investment framework
The Commonwealth Government will take action to strengthen
Australia's foreign investment framework for residential real
estate and agriculture. The Options Paper sets out for consultation
the reforms that the Government proposes to implement to improve
compliance and enforcement of the rules for foreign investment in
residential real estate (25 February 2015).
More...
Panel to review governance of Australian energy
markets
The Australian Government is continuing to drive reforms in the
energy sector with a focus on ensuring the energy framework and
institutions are relevant to both households and businesses. The
Minister for Industry and Science said an expert panel will review
national energy market governance arrangements to make sure they
reflect the changing market (25 February 2015).
More...
APRA releases quarterly ADI property exposures for
December 2014
The APRA has released Quarterly Authorised Deposit-taking
Institution Property Exposures for the December 2014 quarter.
Quarterly ADI Property Exposures contains information on ADIs'
commercial property exposures, residential property exposures and
new housing loan approvals (24 February 2015). More...
ACCC announces priorities and strives for tougher
penalties
The ACCC Chairman outlines the ACCC's role in ensuring
privatisation delivers for consumers, improving the functioning of
the financial system given the competition focus of the Murray
report, ensuring a smooth transition for consumers to NBN services
and reviewing water rules to improve outcomes in the Murray-Darling
Basin (19 February 2015).
More...
In the media – Victoria
New Independent Panel to Address Issues With Short Stay
Accommodation
The Minister for Consumer Affairs has announced an independent
seven-member expert panel to look at the issue. The panel will look
at reforms to better balance residents' rights to quiet
enjoyment of their homes with the rights of other owners to lease
their properties as short stay accommodation (19 February 2015).
More...
Melbourne Metro Rail Project
Work has begun on one of Australia's largest infrastructure
projects: two nine-kilometre underground rail tunnels that will
transform Melbourne's public transport system. The Melbourne
Metro Rail Authority will oversee immediate planning works,
complete development of the Reference Design and undertake detailed
site investigations (16 February 2015).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
Pool owners urged to get compliant in NSW
Following discussions with child safety advocates, councils and
industry stakeholders, pool owners will be granted a 12-month
extension to make sure they have a valid compliance certificate
before the property can be sold or leased (26 February 2015).
More...
Consultants cast doubt on benefits of Sydney's
WestConnex plan
Sydney's planned WestConnex motorway is unlikely to raise
enough in tolls to make it viable and may not remove traffic from
local roads, a report commissioned by the City of Sydney Council
says (24 February 2015).
More...
Blitz on southside real estate agents
The NSW Minister for Fair Trading has revealed several real estate
agents and agencies have been fined as part of a real estate
compliance blitz in Sydney's south. In the last year, NSW Fair
Trading inspected close to 500 real estate agencies across the
State, and handed out $120,000 in fines to agents and agencies (22
February 2015).
More...
Super tribunal marks successful first
year
NSW Attorney General Brad Hazzard has welcomed strong figures from
the state's super tribunal showing that more than 70 per cent
of matters in 2014 were resolved at, or prior, to the first
hearing. 19 February 2015).
More...
Local Government Planning Report shows swing to
Complying Development
The recently released Local Government Performance Monitoring
Report for the last financial year indicates complying development
is now 29% of all determinations says the Urban Taskforce (16
February 2015).
More...
In the media – Queensland
State leasehold rent payments deferred to help cyclone
recovery
Quarterly rent payments due on leased state land will be deferred
until 30 June 2015 to help struggling leaseholders recover in areas
damaged by ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia (27 February 2015).
More...
Federal Government to consider Goondicum ilmenite mine
road project near Monto
The Federal Government is assessing a controversial North Burnett
road project in southern Queensland that was the subject of an
environmental complaint (26 February 2015).
More...
Outback Queensland road projects share in $1m blackspot
funding boost
Five projects in western Queensland will share in just over $1
million in new funding under the Federal Government's blackspot
road funding program. The Government has announced $33 million all
up for 83 projects across Queensland (19 February 2015).
More...
Developer unfazed by deadline for billion dollar
Sunshine Coast plans
Japanese developer Sekisui House says it will have no problem
meeting the Sunshine Coast council's deadline to submit more
information on its proposed billion dollar development at Yaroomba
(18 February 2015).
More...
In Practice and Courts - National
UDIA NBN Special Update: parts of its new NBN Greenfield
rollout plan delayed
Critically, the proposal to charge developers a backhaul
co-contribution of up to 50 per cent of the first $1000 per lot,
and 100 per cent of costs in excess of $1000 per lot, where NBN Co
does not have backhaul available, has been delayed to 1 July 2015.
Implementation of the $300 end user charge for new connections has
also been delayed to 1 July 2015 (27 February 2015). More...
Options Paper on Foreign Investment: Consultation The Government is seeking views on proposed reforms to strengthen Australia's foreign investment framework, particularly around residential real estate and agriculture. Interested parties are invited to comment on the consultation paper. Closing date for submissions: Friday, 20 March 2015 (25 February 2015). More...
Strengthening Australia's Foreign Investment
Framework - Consultation Paper
The Government is seeking views on proposed reforms to strengthen
Australia's foreign investment framework, particularly around
residential real estate and agriculture. This discussion paper
forms the basis of the Government's consultation on reforms to
the foreign investment framework (25 February 2015).
More...
Need for a national approach to retail leasing
arrangements
Reporting Date: 05 March 2015
The Senate: 16 February 2015 - Transcript of Senate Economics
References Committee hearing into Retail leasing arrangements,
Friday, 13 February 2015.
More...
CER: 2013-14 National Greenhouse and Energy reporting
data
The Clean Energy Regulator has released the
2013-14 National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) data
publication.
Factsheets are available to provide further information on the
2013-14 NGER data publication. The CER has also published the
National Greenhouse and Energy Register for 2013-14 (details of
each corporation that was registered under the National
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 for the 2013-14
reporting year) (27 February 2015).
In Practice and Courts - Queensland
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
WorkCover Queensland: Owner-builders and DIY – are
you covered
Homeowners who engage workers to perform maintenance or
renovations at their private dwelling (domestic residence) are
required to hold an inexpensive
Household Workers Insurance Policy. If homeowners are not
living at the premises and are engaging workers they will be
required to hold an ordinary
WorkCover Accident Insurance Policy (25 February 2015).
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.
