May 2015 Issue 104

Political fashion - some might say it's an oxymoron. But late last year a group of Parliamentarians got together and decided that we needed to do more to support the local fashion industry, and so Parliamentary Friends of Aussie Fashion was born. A challenge was put out to all MPs and Senators to wear locally designed and made clothes for...

What is a testamentary trust? Testamentary trusts have been used in estate planning for many years, but what is a testamentary trust? I like to think of it as a ball of play dough that can be moulded to suit any person's circumstances. At its simplest, it is a gift in a Will to a beneficiary who is under the...

Productivity in the workplace is affected by a number of different things. Being aware of common barriers to productivity in the workplace, as well as engaging with advice on how to boost your productivity to above average levels, can be extremely beneficial to your business outcomes. Here are five things that all businesses should be thinking about: 1. Motivating Staff...

'Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck.' This is the full sentence written by Donald Horne in his commentary of Australians in the 1960s titled, 'The Lucky Country'. Australia has certainly come a long way since the 1960s, where we were riding on the sheep's back, Australia's cultural cringe and the White Australia Policy....

Yes, it sounds a bit dramatic, but if your website is not mobile friendly, the latest Google algorithm could significantly affect your ranking on Google's search engine. In Australia, over 90% of searches are done on Google. It's never been more critical for websites to be mobile friendly. If you don't do something about this now, it is likely to...

The day will inevitably come when it's time to move on from your current organisation and take up a fresh challenge elsewhere. However, the way you leave your employer is important and you must ensure you leave on good terms, as how you leave is often how you are remembered. Leaving one organisation to start a new challenge elsewhere can...

Starting a new business is an exciting time. A difficulty may be getting all necessary legal advice, and mechanisms in place prior to starting. Although cash flow can be tight when starting out, this is an important time to receive professional advice, as it may limit the risk of unintended issues arising later. What are the legal issues / advice...

Do I need permission from the other parent or a Court to move with my children? Parents need to be aware that if you move within Australia without the other parent's consent or a court order, the other parent may apply for a recovery order in the family law courts seeking to have the children returned. If a recovery order...

The Print Logistics industry is undergoing continual change - if we accept that "print is not dead", then we are told that today's choice is either Digital or Offset printing. The reality is that there remains a role for both, and the choice is not so much "which one" but "which one is right for this job". Traditional Offset printing...

In early April, the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) released a statement calling on all boards to ensure that at least 30% of directors are female, and urged all listed companies to achieve this target by 2018. In launching this target, AICD's Managing Director and CEO, John Brogden, said the new objective is a significant extension of previous diversity...

The hot Australian summers are perfect pool weather, so it might not be surprising to learn that Australia has the highest pool ownership per capita - there's around 1.2 million private pools currently installed and thirty thousand new pools being installed each year1. But, aside from the countless hours of enjoyment you and your family could experience with a pool,...

Business relationships; when they're good, they're great, reaping financial rewards and mutual benefits for all parties involved. But what about when they're sour, and what was once a productive working relationship becomes a burden? As we approach the end of the financial year, now is the time to take stock of your existing contracts and consider how do you go...

"…In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." So said Benjamin Franklin in his famously quoted phrase regarding a fledgling American Constitution. However, fledgling relationships, be they domestic or commercial, rarely take into account such matters - particularly if by 'death' we think in a more expanded way about the 'end' of that relationship....