GL Insights
Government Snapshot: Proposed Procurement Enforcement Regime
There has been a lot of discussion around the proposed changes to the way Commonwealth Government procures goods and services, in the form of the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Bill 2017 (the Bill). The Bill was presented before the House of Represenatives on 25 May 2017. Of great importance is the introduction of a mechinism …
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The Importance of Performance Management in a ‘Throw-Away’ Culture Era
The importance of performance management to private employers and government departments cannot be overstated. Performance management is more than the process of evaluating and managing employees to ensure that the employer is meeting its obligations. The benefits to effectively managing employees can be wide-reaching to both employers and employees, especially when you consider the huge …
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: MANDATORY DATA BREACH NOTIFICATION BILL PASSED
It is the Bill that has done the rounds of Parliament and been the subject of much anticipation and commentary. Privacy nerds everywhere (read: Griffin Legal staff) were waiting with baited breath to see if the latest amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) would be passed. On 13 February 2017, the Privacy Amendment (Notifiable …
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Contracts for children in sport – potentially more than just a “minor” inconvenience
At common law, minors have always been able to enter into binding contracts. The common law originally stated that contracts entered into by persons under 21 were “voidable at his or her option”. That is, the minor could choose to enforce the contract, or to avoid it. The Commonwealth and the States and Territories have …
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Part of a government tender evaluation committee? Want to know your obligations?
A tender evaluation committee is responsible for ensuring that a government procurement process is transparent and that procurement related actions are documented, defensible and validated in accordance with probity obligations. Among other things, your job is to protect the Government of the day from allegations of impropriety in government purchasing. This blog provides an overview …
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New Year, New Will!
A new Will may not be the first thing on your new year’s resolution list, however it is very important to consider. If you do not have a Will or your circumstances substantially changed in 2016, the fresh new year is a good time to organise your estate planning. An outdated Will can be as …
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Your Facebook, Your Intellectual Property.
A cautionary tale of the rights you give away. A few months ago, as I sat in a meeting that was increasing in tempo at a remarkable speed, one attendee at the meeting quipped, “intellectual property has no value”. As I heard this and started to explain to this person that for some business’ intellectual …
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Disclosure Statements – What are they and why do I need one?
If you are the tenant or landlord of a retail or commercial lease, your lawyer probably required you to sign a Disclosure Statement prior to the commencement of the lease. You may be about to enter into a lease and have been provided with a Disclosure Statement. You may be wondering, what is this? Why …
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Employment contracts: does a step back from implied terms mean that the goal posts are moving?
Trust and confidence – Barker In the 2014 case Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker (Barker), the High Court of Australia determined that there is no implied term of mutual trust and confidence in contracts of employment in Australia. This was considered by some as a sign that the foundations relied upon in employment contracts …
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Commercial and Retail Leasing: Bank Guarantee v Bond
It is typical for landlords to require tenants to provide security under a lease, to secure the tenant’s obligations under the lease. There are various types of security that may be provided, including bank guarantees, bonds and – where the tenant is a company – personal guarantees from the directors of the tenant entity. The …
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