In the media – National
Mining tax remains in place
Resources companies will have to pay their next installment of the
mining tax after a government bid to repeal the impost was rejected
by the Senate (18 July 2014).
More...
Australia's Carbon Tax Repealed
The Australian Parliament has passed legislation to repeal the
carbon tax. The Senate voted 39-32 to pass eight bills repealing
the Carbon Pricing Mechanism (CPM). The repeal bills passed the
House of Representatives on 14 July 2014 (17 July 2014).
More...
ACCC warns on carbon price cuts
The consumer watchdog has warned businesses of "serious
penalties" if price cuts from the carbon tax repeal are not
passed on. The ACCC has extra funding and toughened powers to act
against businesses which supply electricity, gas, refrigerant gases
and equipment such as refrigerators and air-conditioners which do
not pass on savings (17 July 2014).
More...
BP loses legal stoush over right to be green BP this month lost a legal fight to trademark a shade of the colour green in Australia. TimeBase reports the multinational petroleum giant first attempted to obtain exclusive rights to the colour as a corporate identifier back in 1991, an attempt that was blocked by Woolworths, which also wears green as its corporate badge (16 July 2014). More...
In the media – Victoria
Biomass power plant promises bright future for
Mildura
A $174 million biomass power plant near Mildura is a step closer,
with rezoning approval from Minister for Planning. Mr Guy today
rezoned land at Carwarp for the 35-megawatt power station and
approved an 18-kilometre electricity transmission line and
substation to connect to the existing grid (18 July 2014).
More...
Yarra River to get increased planning
protection
The Yarra River upstream from the city will be protected from over
development under proposed new riverside planning controls.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy said these changes would introduce
consistent height, setback and density controls to a 70-kilometre
stretch of the river through Banyule, Manningham and Nillumbik (14
July 2014).
More...
Victorian property investment promoters
warned
The Minister for Consumer Affairs said Victoria's consumer
watchdog was working with other Australian Consumer Law regulators
to examine the practices of property investment promoters, to
remind them of their responsibilities under the Australian Consumer
Law (07 July 2014).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
Lend Lease accredited under Lifemark Village
Scheme
Lend Lease has become the first retirement village operator in
Australia to be accredited under the Lifemark Village Scheme, the
retirement living industry's accreditation scheme (16 July
2014).
More...
Revitalising Sydney's Bay's
Precinct
The Planning Minister announces a renewal program for the
Sydney's inner harbour, The Bays Precinct. The NSW Government
will ensure that underutilised and degraded waterfront areas in and
around Blackwattle Bay, the Sydney Fish Market, Rozelle Bay,
Rozelle Rail Yards, and the heritage-listed White Bay Power Station
are regenerated to provide a vibrant new harbour front (18 July
2014).
More...
EPA welcomes opportunity to improve management of
contaminated land in NSW
The NSW Environment Protection Authority's (EPA) Director of
Hazardous Incidents and Environmental Health, has welcomed the NSW
Auditor-General's Report into managing contaminated sites,
saying the agency was supportive of any measures that would improve
approaches to contaminated land issues in NSW (10 July 2014). More...
In the media – Queensland
Developer has to pay submitters court
costs
Mr Bruce Ham who opposed a multi-dwelling development in Toowong
gained improvements in conditions of approval has successfully
opposed the developer's costs application. The Planning and
Environment Court judge decided that Mr Ham raised properly
arguable, bona fide matters of town planning relevance and
succeeded in changing a number of conditions of approval (18 July
2014). More...
New groundwater purchase round in the Queensland Central
Condamine Alluvium
The Australian Government has announced the opening of
Commonwealth groundwater purchases in the Queensland Central
Condamine Alluvium. The tender for groundwater purchases in the
area will open on, 21 July 2014 (15 July 2014).
More...
All systems go' for Maroochydore CBD
plan
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson says Queensland Government
approval of the Maroochydore city centre development scheme is a
significant milestone for the project (15 July 2014).
More...
Sunshine Coast council cites near doubling of
development approvals
The Sunshine Coast council says development activity in the region
is at a three-year high, with more than 1,500 development lots
approved in the past 12 months (10 July 2014).
More...
Government plan to supercharge Queensland
regions
A new regional framework has identified six priority action areas,
including planning for development and infrastructure services.
There will also be a new whole-of-government plan to manage
Projects of Regional Significance, nine of which have been
identified (09 July 2014).
More...
Fair Trading fines agent for misuse of trust account
monies
A Queensland real estate agent has been fined $10,000 and ordered
to pay over $39,000 by the Queensland Administrative and Civil
Tribunal (2 July 2014) for wrongful conversion of trust monies
(July 2014).
More...
ResourcesQ vision open for public comment
Queenslanders will get to have their say on the proposed 30-year
ResourcesQ vision to drive economic growth and create jobs in the
resources sector (07 July 2014).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports – Victoria
Protecting our capital: how climate adaptation in cities
creates a resilient place for business
Author: CDP, C40 and AECOM
The report finds 76 per cent of cities reported that climate
change could impact business. 75 per cent of the most severe
physical risks from climate change that businesses disclose are
also recognised by the relevant city and cities' actions on
climate change have reduced 129 of the 194 risks reported by
businesses (July 2014).
More...
Fair pricing for power
Author: Grattan Institute
The report finds that a different way of charging customers could
have saved network businesses nearly $8 billion in reduced
investment over five years. A second tariff is recommended for
households in geographic areas where the network is under greatest
strain and where expensive new infrastructure will have to be built
unless the strain is relieved (06 July 2014).
More...
In practice and courts – National
Wet Tropics Reef Trust project: request for
tender
$5 million will be used to provide financial incentives to sugar
cane farmers in the Wet Tropics to improve nutrient use efficiency
and farm sustainability. The closing date for applications to be
the service provider for the Reef Trust tender project is 5 August
2014 (11 July 2014). More...
20 Million Trees Programme
The Government is now inviting submissions from Suitable Service
Providers. Submissions received through this Request for
Information process will inform a subsequent Request for Tender
(RFT) process. A Request for Information on the national service
provider component close on 31 July 2014. More...
More...
In practice and courts – Victoria
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
Have your say about the Planning and Environment Regulations 2005. The department is seeking feedback on how the Planning Regulations work and how they can be improved (17 July 2014).
In practice and courts – New South Wales
NSW EPA - Public Consultation for the revision of the
Guidelines on the Duty to Report Contamination under the CLM
Act
The revision of the Contaminated Sites: Guidelines on the Duty to
Report Contamination under the Contaminated Land Management Act
1997 (the "Duty to Report Guidelines"). The Duty to
Report Guidelines have been updated to account for the amendment of
the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site
Contamination) Measure 1999 which include amended and new criteria
for levels of certain contaminants and must be incorporated into
the Duty to Report Guidelines. The EPA would appreciate any
comments on the revised Duty to Report Guidelines which are
currently available on the EPA website. More....
Please submit any comments by 5pm, 8 August 2014:Online
via
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/clm/140417dftclmduty.htm;
via email at: contaminated.sites@epa.nsw.gov.au;
or by post to:
Manager Contaminated Sites
Environment Protection Authority
PO Box A290
Sydney South NSW 1232
In practice and courts – Queensland
OSR: Updated Public Rulings for the First Home Owner
Grant Act
FHOGA0005.2.5—Eligible transactions under the First Home
Owner Grant Act 2000—oral contracts
This Ruling takes effect from 3 July 2014, and clarifies the
circumstances in which the Commissioner will be satisfied there is
an eligible transaction that has been completed where there is no
written contract.
FHOGA015.1.2—Residence requirements
This Ruling takes effect from 1 July 2014, and clarifies the
evidence the Commissioner will consider when making a decision
about whether an applicant occupied a relevant home as their
principal place of residence (16 July 2014).
More...
Land Title Registry Alert: Property Information (Transfer)
New version of Form 24
The Form 24— Property Information (Transfer) (Version 5)
will continue to be accepted at lodgement up until 30 September
2014 after which time only the new Version 6 will be accepted.
More...
Queensland State Land Review: discussion
paper
The review will focus on: improving investment certainty for
business and residential leaseholders by providing them with
greater flexibility to allow the leased land to be used by third
parties; providing greater flexibility to local government as
managers of state land and streamlining government administration
of state land. Submissions close on 31 August 2014.
More...
Cases – Victoria
Moira SC v Sidebottom Group Pty Ltd & Ors
[2014] VCAT 801
Unlawful use for materials recycling, in breach of endorsed plans
to planning permit TP0700182 and/or clauses 33.01 and 35.07 of the
Moira Planning Scheme. The responsible authority must serve a copy
of the enforcement orders on each respondent, in accordance with s
140 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998. More...
Taylor v Taylor (Real Property) [2014] VCAT
796
CO-OWNERSHIP –Part IV of the Property Law Act 1958, whether
express trust established, whether resulting trust created; whether
presumption of advancement displaced. Factors to consider if
domestic arrangement intended to be legally binding. More...
Legislation - National
Commonwealth
Regulations
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Sequestering
Carbon in Soils in Grazing Systems) Methodology Determination
2014
This determination sets out detailed rules for implementing and
monitoring offsets projects that sequester carbon in soils in
livestock grazing systems. Registered 15 Jul 2014.
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