ASIC releases guidance on new protections for small businesses against unfair lending contract terms. The Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Act 2015 extends the protections contained in th...

Credit legislation often has a "sting in the tail” - something that was not readily apparent when the legislation was first framed but then comes back to haunt credit providers down the track. We are reminded of what happened...

Since their commencement on 1 January 2010, all Modern Awards have had a standard clause 2.2 which allows employers to absorb monetary obligations imposed by the Modern Award into over award payments (Absorption Clause). This c...

The recent release by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) of its report on the cost of consumer leases for household goods (Report 447), coupled with other recent changes, is likely to create a perfect stor...

On 20 August 2015, the Court of Appeal handed down the judgment in the matter of Kennedy v Shire of Campaspe [2015] VSCA 215. This was the first occasion on which the court has had the opportunity to consider the operation of the ...

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has today released revised proposals on changes to the exemption order under the Banking Act 1959 (Cth) for religious charitable development funds (RCDFs). These are a response...