GL Insights
Does your agency know when to engage a probity advisor?
Probity is the evidence of ethical behaviour, and can be defined as complete and confirmed integrity, uprightness and honesty in a particular process. When dealing with government resources officials need to ensure proper use and management of public resources. Probity aims to identify the risks which can occur at any stage of a process and …
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Are you building or renovating? How does your contract deal with disputes?
A recent case involving a dispute between a builder and homeowners after they entered into a Masters Builders Association Home Building Contract (Contract) has highlighted some important considerations in respect of dispute resolution processes in building and construction contracts. The Court upheld the validity of a clause in the Contract which allowed disputes between the …
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Unfair dismissal – Childcare responsibilities were not a valid reason for failing to comply with Fair Work Commission directions
Mr Praveen Samuel lodged an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission (the Commission). He failed to respond to correspondence from the Commission by the deadline imposed and his application was dismissed. He sought leave to appeal the decision. The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that there would be no public interest in …
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Unfair dismissal – Can unauthorised annual leave reduce the minimum employment period?
Mr Calleja was employed as a full-time spring maker until his employment was terminated by his employer in March 2021. Mr Calleja subsequently made an unfair dismissal claim. The former employer raised multiple defences to Mr Calleja’s claim, one of which was that Mr Calleja had not been employed for long enough to make an …
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How certain are the terms of your employment contracts?
In the recent case of McAlister v Yara Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FCCA 1409, an employer was ordered by the Federal Circuit Court to pay damages of approximately $143,000 plus statutory entitlements (less any amounts already paid) for wrongful termination representing 9-months pay in lieu of notice to an employee. This may have been avoided …
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Do you need a Will or does your Will need updating?
If you do not have a Will, now is a great time to make one. A Will sets out what is to happen with your estate after you die. To ensure your estate ends up with who and where you want, you may need to have a valid Will. Give the team at Griffin Legal …
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Do you know your data breach responsibilities under the Privacy Act? Notifications are down by 16%!
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) regularly publishes reports on data breaches that have been reported to the commission under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme. This scheme was established in 2018 to improve protection of identifiable consumer information and improve the security standards for protecting personal information. Under the scheme, any organisation covered …
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Businesses must be completely transparent to consumers, says ACCC
The Australian funeral services sector has attracted the attention of the ACCC for all the wrong reasons. Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (Propel), a publicly listed company, has been ordered to pay penalties for misleading consumers about the ownership of its funeral homes. Two Propel-owned funeral homes, one in Taree and another in Townsville, have been …
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Governance Manuals – should your organisation have one?
Whether your organisation is a company limited by guarantee, not for profit or start-up, a Governance Manual, or Governance Charter, could prove useful in the short and long term operation of your organisation. What is a Governance Manual? A Governance Manual is a central document which contains information about most aspects of the operations and …
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When do you have to register for a Director Identification Number? It could be now.
The Director Identification Number is now in place. From 1 November 2021 new directors of companies must apply for a Director ID immediately, and existing directors need to confirm the deadline for their Director ID registration.