FVRO’s Family violence can affect anyone from any walk of life. Placing restraints on a person’s movements, behaviour and communications is a serious step. It infringes a person’s liberty and freedom of movement. It is important to understand how restraining orders work in practice and what you should expect if you find it necessary for you to apply for one, counsel someone who needs to apply for one or respond…
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Have you told the Australian Taxation Office about your foreign income?
Are you receiving income from overseas? If so, you must ensure that you declare this foreign income in your annual tax returns. If you do not, the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth) (TAA) allows the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to impose interest and penalties with respect to the undeclared foreign income. What is foreign income? Foreign income includes foreign pensions, annuities, employment income, investment income, business income and capital gains…
Continue readingAdministrative Appeals Tribunal Reviews
Jurisdiction The first thing to consider when appealing a decision made by an administrative body to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (“AAT”) is whether the AAT has jurisdiction to review the decision. The AAT does not have the power to review any decision. The AAT can only review decisions where an Act, regulation or other legislative instrument states that the decision can be reviewed by the AAT. A recent decision by…
Continue readingRecovering your debts
Before you sue Most people in business will encounter the frustrating experience of not being paid for a service rendered or goods supplied. It is almost inevitable it will happen one day, planning ahead can minimise your risk. Here are some steps you can take before seeing a lawyer: Make sure you are clear with whom you are contracting. If there is any doubt, ask for ID or carry…
Continue readingExtending Workers Compensation Payments: Section 217 Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
Workers Compensation laws in Western Australia provide that workers who are injured at work are entitled to weekly payments, to compensate for lost wages, up to a limit of $224,921. This limit is referred to as the “prescribed sum”. Changes are made to the prescribed sum each July. Under Section 217 of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 WorkCover may extend the workers weekly payments up to 75%…
Continue readingTestamentary Trusts Explained
General Overview A testamentary trust is simply a trust that is created by a taxpayer’s Will which does not come into effect until the taxpayer dies. A testamentary trust is like any other ordinary “inter vivos” trust, the only difference being that it is created under a Will rather than by a living person. The terms of a testamentary trust are set out in the Will. Whilst a testamentary trust…
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