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Australia

Australia insights
Our team in Australia have been creating the Insights below to help you navigate through the significant operational and commercial challenges in the country.
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Latest Insights

Small panel networking

Employment law landscape

Join DWF's Michelle Dawson, George Haros, Christina Tsakiris and William Marshall for an interactive Q&A webinar which will look into what lies ahead for the employment law landscape.
 
Small panel future thinking
Insights

Locking down on COVID-19 workplace requirements in Victoria

On 28 July 2020, the new COVID-19 related Occupational Health & Safety Regulations were passed in Victoria. In this article we look at these new regulations and what they mean for employers.

 
Small panel research and data
Insights

COVID-19 Direction Reasonable and Lawful

The value of having a clause in an employment contract requiring employees to follow reasonable and lawful directions has been underlined by a recent decision of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) in Kieran Knight v One Key Resources (Mining) Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 3324. 
 
Small panel clients
Insights

What now for leased premises in Victoria?

With another six weeks of Stage 3 lockdown for Victorians where does this leave landlords and tenants that may have already reached agreement regarding rent relief for the prescribed relevant period (ending 29 September 2020)? What about those yet to reach agreement for the relevant period?
 
 
Small panel innovation
Insights

Victoria's combustible cladding rectification scheme

In the wake of COVID-19, the Victorian Government, has provided a much-needed boost to the construction and property sector by fast-tracking the $550 million funding to be used for the rectification works for apartment buildings which contain combustible materials.
 
Small panel covid
Insights

The COVID-19 journey so far Australia

The story so far for Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and what returning to the workplace in the post-lockdown environment may look like.
 
Small panel Employment
Insights

Company successfully implements partial stand down of workforce 

A cruise operator has been found to have acted lawfully when it stood down a marine superintendent and 106 other employees, after transferring some of their duties to the 50% of staff that were not stood down. 

 
Small panel clients
Insights

COVID-19 The key challenges

As employers across the globe come to terms with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we take a look at the key challenges facing employers in a range of jurisdictions across the world. 
 
Small panel research and data
Insights

Key global employment considerations as businesses manage the return to work

With social, economic and cultural norms changing at an unprecedented level, employers have the responsibility to protect their workforce and support their employees through the process of returning to the 'new norm' working environment.
 
Small panel developments explained
Insights

New laws introduced to ease privacy

The federal government has passed legislation governing the collection, use and disclosure of  COVIDSafe app data as the government increases its efforts to get Australians to sign up and help track the spread of COVID-19.
 
Small panel future thinking
Insights

Electronic signing and remote witnessing

New laws have been implemented at the Federal and State levels to facilitate the electronic signing and remote witnessing of documents in order to address the practical difficulties brought on by COVID-19. 
 
Small panel legislation
Insights

Governments across the globe announce financial support packages for businesses

In light of the global pandemic COVID-19, governments around the world are offering financial measures to support businesses. 
 
Small panel clients
Insights

More COVID-19 WHS guidance released must be adopted

Key insight for our Australian market on Workplace Safety.

 
Small panel legislation
Insights

New Regulations detail how the National Code of Conduct for Leasing will be implemented in Victoria

The Victorian Government has now enacted the necessary regulations to give effect to the National Code during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we answer some popular questions we are fielding from both landlords and tenants.
 
Small panel clients
Insights

National workplace health and safety principles released

In late April 2020, new guidelines were released by the Prime Minister’s National Cabinet for businesses to develop cultures and strategies on preparing for the safe return to workplaces. 
 
Small panel clients
Insights

Q&A: Property and Construction

The evolving COVID-19 situation has raised numerous challenges for the Property and Construction sectors. Added to this, information and government policy (both Federal and State) is changing daily – if not hourly.
 
Small panel innovation
Insights

Government issues JobKeeper Rules

On 9 April 2020, the Federal Government released the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Rules 2020 (the JobKeeper Rules), which confirm the eligibility requirements for employers to receive the JobKeeper payment.
 
Small panel legislation
Insights

Sweeping changes made to Fair Work Act 2009

The two bills required to give effect to the proposed JobKeeper payment have passed both Houses of Parliament and contain historic but short term changes to the Fair Work Act 2009.
 
Small panel future thinking
Insights

Government provides further details of the mandatory code of conduct

The Government has released more details on the new Rent Relief Policy for tenancies impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) - but where does that leave landlords and tenants?
 
Small panel research and data
Insights

Fair Work Commission serves up changes to the Restaurant Industry Award 2010

Modern awards covering the industries that were hit the hardest were the first to see urgent temporary provisions inserted to address the current pandemic, namely the Clerks Private Sector Award 2010 and Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010. 
 
Small panel research and data
Insights

Pandemic leave is pending

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has now flagged significant pandemic-related changes to 100 modern awards. Our team in Australia look at what this means in practice for employers. 
 
Small panel future thinking
Insights

Government principles for commercial and residential leasing

The Prime Minister has recently announced several principles to assist the leasing sector through the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
 
Small panel developments explained
Insights

All foreign purchaser transactions now require FIRB approval

The Treasurer has recently announced that the threshold amounts for any foreign purchaser transaction made on or after 10:30pm Sunday, 29 March 2020 will be $0. 
 
Small panel developments explained
Insights

The Clerks Private Sector

During February 2020 approximately 14.3% of all employees were employed in positions governed, or supported, by the Clerks Private Sector Award 2010 (Award). This makes it unsurprising that this award would be next in line for the FWC to consider the insertion of urgent interim measures. 
 
Small panel research and data
Insights

Award flexibility in response to COVID-19

On 24 March 2020, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) approved unprecedented interim changes to the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 (Award), with similar provisions expected to be rolled out in many other modern awards as employers grapple with the ever changing landscape of the Australian economy.
 
Small panel clients
Insights

What now for small retailers and venue operators?

What rights (if any) does a tenant have to seek rent relief under their lease following a forced closure of their business?

 
Small panel clients
Insights

Construction industry exposure to COVID-19 delays

The impacts of the coronavirus are being felt throughout the Australian construction industry. How might the coronavirus affect your existing construction contracts? What issues should you consider before entering into a future construction contract?
 
Small panel innovation
Insights

A Workers Compensation Perspective

In the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, employers across Australia and the world are navigating an ever changing landscape of issues for their businesses. From a workers' compensation perspective, employers should be alive to the risks that flow from employees contracting the virus.
 
Small panel research and data
Insights

Managing the Coronavirus outbreak

We are less than a quarter of the way into 2020, and Australia has seen a dramatic start to the year. After a summer of catastrophic bushfires, crippling drought, major storms and floods, Australians are now (with the rest of the world) facing the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 

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