National Redress Scheme Review
Public Hearings to Review the National Redress Scheme begin this Month in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle In September 2019 the Australian Parliament announced a review of the National Redress Scheme. The review is an opportunity for members of the public to provide their feedback and express their concerns of their experiences of the operation of the National Redress Scheme. The review will be undertaken by the...
References for the Devil
When do you draw the line on your personal ethical stand for the protection of children. On the 23 February of this year, in the Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Koziol wrote about the concerning issue regarding Stephen Russell, past Headmaster of St Kevin’s College in Melbourne. Mr Russell had provided a character reference for Peter Kehoe, a coach at St Kevin’s, who was convicted...
Abuse in Australian Defence Force
Claims for Abuse in Australian Defence Force The Royal Commission in the Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (‘Royal Commission’) address a number of institutions in society where sadly incidences of sexual and serious physical abuse have been prevalent for many years. The Royal Commission heard evidence in relation to a limited number of reported incidents of sexual and physical abuse in a small sample of...
Modern Slavery Report
YOUR COMPANY MAY NEED TO PROVIDE A MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT AS A MATTER OF LEGISLATED COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. ARE YOU COMPLIANT? Who is required to report? The Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (“Act”) requires that an entity that has an annual consolidated revenue of at least AUD 100 million, and is either an Australian entity or a foreign entity carrying on business in Australia, (pursuant to section...
Australian Expats Beware
When is the Family Home no longer exempt from Capital Gains Tax? Australian Expats Beware. If you are an Australian Expat living overseas, and own a property in Australia deemed to be your Primary Residence, after 30 June 2020 this property will no longer be exempt from Capital Gains Tax. This tax will be retrospective to cover any capital gain on the property accumulated over the...
Average Abuse Report Time – 20 Years
The average time to report abuse is 20 years, so how much time do you actually have to lodge a claim? For over 300 years there has been a time limit imposed on anyone who wanted to take action in a court to enforce their legal rights. There are sound reasons to have time limits. People need to have certainty in how they conduct their...
National Redress Scheme
Is the National Redress Scheme Working for Victims of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse? At this point in time the answer is quite possibly no. It was reported by Miki Perkins, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, that at least 10 applicants for the Redress Scheme sadly passed away before they were paid as they were not processed in time. The backlog appears to remain, and many...
No One is Above the Law
No One is Above the Law: Catholic Priests face Fines or Imprisonment if they do not report their knowledge of the abuse of a child as related to them in the act of Confession The Royal Commission into Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard extensive evidence of shocking historical sexual abuse in the Catholic Church over a five year period between 2013 and 2017. In 2017...
Where Evil Resides, Evil Acts
Where Evil Resides, Evil Acts People often ask us if the church or posh schools are the only institutions we act against in matters of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. The answer is a definitive “No!” In today's’ Sydney Morning Herald we have read an article by their crimes reporter, Sally Rawsthorne, about the allegations of sexual acts with a twelve year old child, laid against Raymond...
Reopening Settled Abuse Claims
I Settled My Abuse Claim - Can I Re-Open It? The Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse brought these matters to the forefront of public knowledge and understanding. For the many people who lived with the consequences of that abuse the fight has often been going on for many years. Many people who suffered made claims for compensation. Many of these claims were settled before the...
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in a snapshot: 4,029 survivors of child sexual abuse gave evidence to the Royal Commission in private sessions into abuse in religious institutions 294 gave evidence about abuse in Salvation Army institutions (7.3%) Of those 73.1% were male and 26.9% were female. Average age at the time they were first abused – 10.3 years...
Is Your Contractor an Employee?
Employment Law: Is Your Contractor an Employee? If you get it wrong, what are the penalties? The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) often issues guidelines for Employers to better understand the relationship they may have with their workers. It is important to get this relationship right from day one. Here are their six (6) basic questions to ask to help determine whether or not your worker...
Guide to the Sale and Purchase of a Small Business
What is a Small Business: In Australia, businesses with less than 20 employees, or a turnover of less than AU$2 million per annum, are generally classified as small businesses. Small businesses account for almost 98% of businesses in Australia, and 35% of Australia’s gross domestic profit, employing 44% of Australia’s workforce. Regardless of a vendor’s reason for selling a business, for a purchaser, especially an inexperienced...
Salvation Army Boys Homes
The Salvation Army Boys Homes in New South Wales and Queensland The Salvation Army operations in Australia are divided in those of the Eastern Territory (Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT) and the Southern Territory (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory). Additionally, the Salvation Army has long maintained a respected position in Australian society. As a charity and a church it engages...
Australian Migration for Investors
Australian Investor Visa With one of the world’s most sought after living environments, favourable climates, great education opportunities, well developed markets, safety for women and political security and proximity to Asia, Australia continues to be the first choice of destination for emigration and investment for high net worth individuals from Asia (especially China) and other parts of the world, followed by US, Canada and the...
