In the media – National
Buildings Day: GBCA commits to net zero
certification
The Green Building Council of Australia will introduce net zero
certification for buildings from 2016, it has announced as part of
the inaugural Buildings Day at COP 21 in Paris. The GBCA also said
it would push for increased minimum energy efficiency standards in
the Building Code of Australia (04 December 2015).
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REIA: Increasing loan size brings housing affordability
down
A new report released today shows that overall housing
affordability in Australia declined over the September quarter with
homes becoming less affordable in five out of the eight states and
territories (03 December 2015).
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Property Council: Removing pension penalty for
downsizers better for budget
The Federal Government could save up to $86 million a year from
targeted reforms to the age pension means test that remove the
penalty for eligible seniors wanting to downsize, according to
high-level costings by PwC (02 December 2015).
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Seniors downsizing needs planning support
The recent report by the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre
on planning impediments to downsizing for older Australians raises
important issues, says the Urban Taskforce (01 December 2015).
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Advisers warned on foreign ownership laws
Advisers who knowingly assist foreign investors to flout Australian
laws will face fines under legislation implemented today, Treasurer
Scott Morrison warns, following the passage of the Foreign
Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 last
week (01 December 2015).
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ASIC remakes 'sunsetting' class orders on real
estate companies
ASIC has today remade two class orders that are due to expire
('sunset') in 2016. ASIC Corporations (Real Estate
Companies) Instrument 2015/1049 provides relief for vendors,
licensed real estate agents and valuers from the licensing and
disclosure requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 with respect
to real estate companies (25 November 2015).
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Competition policy reform reaches into real
estate
The Treasurer has put a workable model on the table to get the
states and territories on board with reforms to address housing
affordability, noting that many other reports had also pointed to
the way planning and zoning inhibited housing supply and
affordability (25 November 2015).
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In the media – New South Wales
Independent planning decision for Central Park
residential building
The independent Planning Assessment Commission will make the final
decision on applications to modify the original concept plan for
Central Park on Broadway and provide a new residential and retail
building (02 December 2015).
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NSW cuts real estate agents out of rental bonds
market
The days of real estate agents sitting on fat cash deposits from
tenants for residential rental properties look numbered after the
New South Wales state government moved to let renters deposit their
bonds directly and online with NSW of Fair Trading (30 November
2015).
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NSW achieves outstanding result in $10.258 billion
TransGrid lease
The NSW Government has announced a successful lease of high-voltage
electricity transmission asset TransGrid, unlocking billions of
dollars for investment in new and productive infrastructure (25
November 2015).
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In practice and courts – National
Changes to Australia's Foreign Investment
framework
The new legislation and regulations governing foreign investment in
Australia came into effect on 1 December 2015. The new rules
streamline the regime to focus Government resources on the issues
important to Government. The Property Council has prepared a
briefing paper on what the changes mean for the property
industry.
In practice and courts – Victoria
State Revenue Office: Absentee owner
surcharge
From 1 January 2016, a 0.5 per cent absentee owner surcharge
on land tax will apply to Victorian land owned by an absentee
owner. If you are an absentee owner as at 31 December 2015, you
must notify the SRO before 15 January 2016 or you may have to pay a
penalty (December 2015).
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.