Checklist to help practitoners manage risk in commercial litigation.
Covers:
Further changes are being made to defamation laws in multiple Australian jurisdictions—including Victoria— especially with respect to online publications. This article identifies some of the key changes and associated risks for defamation practitioners.
In historic institutional child abuse claims, we are continuing to see requests by some defendants for plaintiff’s solicitors to provide an independent solicitor certificate on settlement of the plaintiff’s claim. The certificates typically contain statements to the effect that the solicitor acting for the plaintiff has explained to the plaintiff the purport and effect of the settlement deed, the plaintiff appeared to have understood that advice, and that the deed was signed voluntarily.
Understand the broad scope of the Hearne v Street obligation and be proactive to avoid or otherwise remedy a breach.
The LPLC Annual Report for 2023–2024 was tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 31 October 2024.
The Victorian Government has introduced the State Tax Amendment Bill 2024 which, amongst other taxation changes, will (if passed) broaden the holiday home exemption to allow shareholders of companies, as well as certain beneficiaries of trusts and relatives of those shareholders and beneficiaries, to satisfy the exemption for a property owned by a company or trust.
The State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 12 December 2023. The new law introduces significant property tax changes in Victoria with effect from 1 January 2024.
