Publications
Can cryptocurrency be restrained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) and Confiscation Act 1997 (Vic)?
Publications | 3 March 2022 Can cryptocurrency be restrained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) and Confiscation Act 1997 (Vic)? Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency (such as Bitcoin) that uses blockchain technology, which in its simplest form is a distributed digital ledger that stores data by linking together blocks of information. Blockchain is decentralised by spreading identical copies of the data in the chain across multiple computers, which computers are referred...

Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre releases its final report
THis is an excerpt that’s hopefully used.

Blockchain Australia welcomes Madison Branson Lawyers as new member
THis is an excerpt that’s hopefully used.

Statutory demand minimum set to increase to $4,000 from $2,000
THis is an excerpt that’s hopefully used.

Breakdowns of Relationships; three applications you need to consider plus one more thing
Publications | 18 May 2021 Breakdowns of Relationships; three applications you need to consider plus one more thing There is a common misconception that once a divorce is finalised the separation process is over. A Divorce Order will only dissolve the marriage. Settlement of property and parenting arrangements require further applications. The same applications apply equally to de facto relationships. 1. Divorce If you have been separated for at least one year, you can file an...

Electronic execution pursuant to the Corporations Act 2001 Expired
Publications | 23 March 2021 Stop! Electronic execution pursuant to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) no longer permitted On 21 March 2021, the temporary measures arising from the Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 3) 2020 (“Determination”) expired, which Determination had enabled the electronic execution of documents under section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Act”). Extension of the temporary measures The Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No....

New laws target illegal phoenix activity
Publications | 23 FEBRUARY 2021 New laws target illegal phoenix activity As at 18 February 2021, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Act 2020 (Cth) (“Act”) came into operation, which saw significant amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”), including the introduction of a number of changes concerning company directorships. Illegal phoenixing Illegal phoenixing involves creating a new company to continue the business of an existing company...

National minimum wage set to increase on 1 July, 2020
Publications | 23 June 2020 National minimum wage set to increase on 1 July 2020 On 19 June 2020, the Fair Work Commission (“Commission”) decided to increase the national minimum wage (“NMW”) from 1 July 2020 by 1.75%, which sees the NMW raised to $753.80 per week ($19.84 per hour). A copy of the Commission’s decision (“Decision”) can be found here. The increase will be applicable to modern awards, but the Commission has determined to apply a staggered approach to implement the increase...

Update your Wills and Powers of Attorney now – New Victorian regulations allow electronic signatures and witnessing of documents by audio-visual link
Publications | 18 MaY 2020 Update your Wills and Powers of Attorney now – New Victorian regulations allow electronic signatures and witnessing of documents by audio-visual link On 12 May 2020, the Victorian Government enacted the COVID–19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) (Electronic Signing and Witnessing) Regulations 2020 (“Regulations”) to facilitate the execution of certain documents electronically, and to allow the witnessing of the signing of documents to occur by audio-visual link,...

Revocation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth)
A restraining order1, which has been made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) (“POCA”), prohibits the disposal of, or dealing with, property that is the subject of that
order.
There are some ways to overcome a restraining order, such as by applying to revoke a restraining order and/or by applying to exclude property from a restraining order (the most common).

Rebate statements: Estate Agent’s commission at risk!
In an important update for estate agents, on 19 April 2018, in Advisory Services Pty Ltd (t/a Ray White St Albans) v Augustin & Anor [2018] VSCA 95, the Supreme Court of Victoria (Court of Appeal) found that an estate agent was not entitled to claim commission on the basis that the agent’s authority did not follow the wording pursuant to the Estate Agents Act 1980 (Vic) (“Act”).

Restraining orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth)
Publications | 1 JULY 2019 Restraining orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) (“POCA”) is complex legislation and is often described by judges as draconian. Its principal objects are designed to deprive persons of the proceeds of offences, the instruments of offences, and benefits derived from offences, against the laws of the Commonwealth or the non-governing Territories. Other principal objects include depriving persons of...