Legal Light

1/09/2010 | GETTING KIDS EDUCATED Education has received a fair bit of attention in recent months. The government’s school building program has regularly featured in the media, as has their promise to deliver computers to secondary schools...

25/08/2010 | NSW BUSHFIRE POLICY – DOES IT MEASURE UP? Few could have forgotten the tragedy around the Victorian “Black Saturday” bushfires of February 2009. In response to the huge loss of life, the Victorian government established a bushfire Royal Commission...

18/08/2010 | VOTING AND THE LAW It would be difficult to miss the fact that we are approaching a federal election. The major parties continue to bombard us with their promises for positive change, and assure us that the nation will suffer if we vote for the other side...

11/08/2010 | WHO IS THE ‘NOMINAL DEFENDANT’? What happens if you fall foul of someone else's bad driving on the roads but can’t identify the person responsible...

4/08/2010 | ADOPTING A MORE ‘FLEXIBLE’ ATTITUDE Flexible work arrangements. It certainly sounds good. Many Australian parents were overjoyed to learn that the government was introducing new laws in January this year to help them balance their work and family commitments...

28/07/2010 | HOW TO DEAL WITH NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE ISSUES Many of us have experienced a noisy neighbour at one time or another. We’ve all had our peace or sleep disturbed by a late night party, a non-stop car alarm, a barking dog, or the drone of an early morning power tool...

21/07/2010 | IT’S TRAUMATIC ENOUGH - MAKE IT EASIER Writing a will. It’s something many of us never quite get around to doing. We tend to assume those we love will automatically be provided for in the unfortunate event of our death; that the plan in our head will come to fruition...

14/07/2010 | KEEP THEM SAFE - NEW CHILD PROTECTION LEGISLATION There is little question that NSW’s child protection system has had some fairly major flaws. Over the last few years we have been inundated with media reports about child abuse and neglect, and cases that have ‘fallen through the cracks’...

7/07/2010 | STAYING HOME OPTION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS Leaving home and seeking refuge elsewhere has tended to be the only real option for women wishing to escape a violent partner. While hardly ideal, that has typically been the pattern...

30/06/2010 | PSYCHIATRIC INJURY - THE AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER It would be difficult to dispute the fact that seeing another person being killed, injured or at risk of grave danger would have a pretty negative impact on your mental state...

23/06/2010 | WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT Most of us have some idea about the process for resolving disputes between landlords & tenants, but what happens when someone decides to take up residence on someone else’s property without their knowledge or permission? Without a lease...

16/06/2010 | ORGAN DONATION - NOT YOUR DECISION Lately we’re being bombarded with ads about organ donation. In particular, there’s an emphasis on the need to talk to your family about your wishes, now, while you’re still alive and kicking...

9/06/2010 | SHOULD INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION BE A CRIME? It seems logical to assume that a parent who takes their child to another country, unbeknownst to the other parent, and without their consent, is committing a crime...

2/06/2010 | The dangers of 'chat' These days, saying goodbye to friends at school only means, goodbye until I get home and log on. SMS, email and social networking sites are just part of life for today’s youth...

26/05/2010 | The Cheeseburger Bills - food for thought It seems hard to believe that people suffering from obesity could demand compensation from fast food chains. Surely there must be some personal responsibility for choosing to regularly eat food that is known to be unhealthy...

19/05/2010 | DUI - some misconceptions We’ve all heard of DUI (driving under the influence). Many of us have friends or acquaintances that have been caught out by the booze bus...

12/05/2010 | What lies beneath - the pool safety debate When questioned about pool maintenance, many owners might tell you they spend a fair amount of time cleaning and checking chlorine levels. And there ends their responsibility...

5/05/2010 | The Doctrine of Frustration We all experience frustration, particularly when things happen that are totally beyond our control. No doubt many people were somewhat frustrated with events arising from the volcanic eruption in Iceland...

28/04/2010 | Asylum seekers and the law It’s difficult to watch the news these days and not see something about asylum seekers. We know that Christmas Island is seriously overloaded, and that the government faces a dilemma over what to do with the increasing number of refugees...

21/04/2010 | Medical procedures gone wrong Life is full of uncertainties. We can’t always predict what is in store for us, or protect ourselves from unforseen accidents. Such is life...

14/04/2010 | It's traumatic enough Writing a will. It’s something many of us never quite get around to doing. We tend to assume those we love will automatically be provided for in the unfortunate event of our death...

7/04/2010 | Protecting your good reputation Your reputation is precious. You spend your lifetime acquiring it. It represents who you are, and how you are perceived by others. So when someone says or does something to injure your reputation it can be devastating...

31/03/2010 | Faulty products – know your rights Many of us have bought a product that didn’t measure up to its description, or just didn’t work...

24/03/2010 | The Shared Parenting debate continues It’s hard to dispute the logic behind the shared parenting laws that were introduced by the Howard Government in 2006. Key to the laws was the idea that children benefit from having substantial time with both parents...

17/03/2010 | Noisy Neighbours Many of us have experienced a noisy neighbour at one time or another. We’ve all had our peace or sleep disturbed by a late night party, a non-stop car alarm, a barking dog, or the drone of an early morning power tool...

10/03/2010 | Drug driving - the lick test Many of us have experienced a random breath test. We’ve all seen the RTA advertising campaigns warning about the dangers of drink-driving. But not everyone may be aware of the latest roadside test; the lick test...

3/03/2010 | Compulsory Land Aquisition - what are your rights? It’s hard to believe that land that you own could be taken from you and there is little you can do about it...

24/02/2010 | The plight of the humble 'doggy bag' Gone are the days when you could over-order at a restaurant and simply ask for a doggy bag to take the excess food home. These days, a request to take uneaten food away from a restaurant is quite likely to be refused...

17/02/2010 | The decision to sue your attacker It would be nice to think that all victims of an act of violence could receive adequate compensation for the injuries they sustain...

10/02/2010 | Farm Succession - keeping it in the family Making sure the family farm stays in the family might seem pretty straight forward. But there are a number of complex issues that can arise...

3/02/2010 | New laws on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Anyone who has repeatedly tried and failed to conceive a child naturally will know the experience can be distressing and emotionally draining...

27/01/2010 | Flexible work arrangements for a modern world Having children is part of family life. You only have to look around to see that we are experiencing something of a baby boom...

20/01/2010 | Adoption - navigating the mine field Talk to anybody who has attempted to adopt a child in Australia and you will hear the same story; it’s not easy...

13/01/2010 | Post-Christmas financial stress It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of Christmas spending. Who doesn’t want to play Santa? Surely a new year’s resolution to cut back on spending...

6/01/2010 | Hitting crooks where it hurts Crime Lords have long gotten away with their role in criminal activities. Perched at the top of the criminal chain, they pull the strings, secure in the knowledge that their wealth and resources will protect them from criminal investigation...

30/12/2009 | Pub assaults - Can victims be compensated? It’s not uncommon to hear of “glassings” and similar violent acts in pubs and clubs. These past couple of weeks have seen their fair share of violent assaults as we navigate the silly season...

23/12/2009 | Child sex offences - the future As a nation, we are sometimes unforgiving when it comes to offences involving children. It would be hard to miss the media coverage surrounding convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson...

16/12/2009 | Beware the office Christmas party The work Christmas party. Many of us have a story. We’ve all witnessed karaoke performances by inebriated work colleagues who suddenly discover their star potential. While sometimes embarrassing the next day, these incidents are often harmless...

9/12/2009 | Where there's a will... Writing a will is something we may not want to think about it, or don’t consider to be a pressing need right now...

2/12/2009 | The forgotten Australians compensation debate Most people would agree that the national apology by Kevin Rudd to the ‘forgotten Australians’ on 16th November went some way to acknowledging the pain and suffering...

25/11/2009 | Take care with buying a new business For many among us, the desire to own and operate a business – to be your own boss – is a cherished vision and a driving force...

18/11/2009 | Privacy Laws - where to draw the line? The definition of ‘privacy’ and perceptions about when privacy has been invaded can vary enormously...

11/11/2009 | The Need for Speed Many of us are guilty of driving over the speed limit at one time or another. And many of us are fairly confident...

4/11/2009 | Shonky Tradesmen - What protection do we have? Many of us have heard about or experienced dodgy work done by tradesmen...

28/10/2009 | Counter-terrorism laws Does Operation Pendennis change how we feel? Anything to do with terrorism gets our attention. It’s hard not to be affected by the numerous reports of terrorist attacks and threats...

21/10/2009 | Do we take our rights for granted? Many of us tend to make assumptions about human rights. As Australians brought up in a wealthy western....

7/10/2009 | Penalty clauses in contracts - are they enforced Most of us know the meaning of a penalty in a sporting context. If a player breaks a rule, the other team gains an advantage. Who could miss the roar of disappointment from....

7/10/2009 | Have you locked your identity? We do our utmost to protect our homes, cars and valuables from criminals. Most of us assume our identities at least are safe. Think again.

24/09/2009 | Work Choices Versus Fair Work There is no question that Howard's Work Choices was unpopular.

15/09/2009 | Compensation for Pure Mental Harm The recent outcome of a compensation claim for psychiatric injury made by two police officers who attended the scene of the Waterfall train derailment, puts into question the fairness of the Civil Liability Act.

14/09/2009 | The Shared Parenting Debate When a couple separates, it's a challenging and emotional time for everyone involved, particularly the kids. Making decisions about who the children live with has never been easy.

3/09/2009 | Compensation For Asbestos-Related Disease The number of people at risk of asbestos-related diseases is far greater than at first feared.

25/08/2009 | Still A Buyer's Market But Not Forever If you are thinking about buying property it would seem that now might be a good time to act. Buying now means taking advantage of a number of attractive incentives that won't be around for much longer.

18/08/2009 | Homebirth and Medical Negligence Most mothers will agree, giving birth is one of the most memorable and life-changing events a woman can experience.

6/08/2009 | A Good Time To Protect Your Wealth You're probably sick of hearing the expressions, "today's economic climate" and "the global financial crisis".

27/07/2009 | Confusing Time Limits for Personal Injury Claims Even to the average lawyer, the time limits that now apply to filing a personal injury action can be somewhat confusing.

7/07/2009 | Buying a Franchise Small business remains the powerhouse of the Australian economy, providing the great majority of employment opportunities.

19/05/2009 | Steps Taken To Curb Family Violence While Australia can rightly be proud of its open and accountable democratic society,some aspects of our culture are not so laudable.

23/03/2009 | Contesting A Will While most people leave their assets to family members and/or life partners, some choose to bequeath estates to friends, charities and specialist causes.

11/02/2009 | Business Insolvency Unfortunately, in today's volatile economic environment in Australia, business insolvency for many people becomes a fact of life.

1/09/2010 | GETTING KIDS EDUCATED Education has received a fair bit of attention in recent months. The government’s school building program has regularly featured in the media, as has their promise to deliver computers to secondary schools...

31/08/2010 | BROADBAND LINKS VITAL FOR WORK Broadband technology could decide which party the rural independent MPs will support to form the next government. For Taree professionals like Stacks/The Law Firm commercial lawyer Megan Grainger, the broadband issue is vital...

25/08/2010 | NSW BUSHFIRE POLICY – DOES IT MEASURE UP? Few could have forgotten the tragedy around the Victorian “Black Saturday” bushfires of February 2009. In response to the huge loss of life, the Victorian government established a bushfire Royal Commission...

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