In the media - National

House prices will slow but no debt crisis: HSBC
 Australia's housing market slowdown is set to continue over the rest of the year and into 2017, according to a new paper from HSBC, but it shouldn't cause a household debt crisis as a result (22 April 2016).   More...

Stamp duty 'hurting economy'
 The current property tax structure is costing jobs, negatively affecting the property market and hurting progress, but reform won't be as simple as it seems, according to Property Council of Australia CEO Ken Morrison (14 April 2016).   More...

In the media – New South Wales

Swimming pool rules change on Friday, but are sellers and landlords ready?
 New rules for swimming pools that begin on Friday will affect everyone selling or leasing their home. But a random survey of properties for sale last weekend found about 75 per cent did not appear to be market-ready under the new legislation. If the pool is non-compliant, the new owner will have 90 days to bring it up to safety standard (24 April 2016).  More...  More...

In the media – Queensland

Stronger laws against contamination of land and water enacted in Queensland
 The State's Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles has assured farmers and native title holders that they are outside the reach of Queensland's new Chain of Responsibility laws (22 April 2016).  More...

In practice and courts - National

Land title practice manual
 From 1 May 2016, the Land Title Practice Manual will outline new requirements applicable to all instruments and documents executed and witnessed outside Australia, including all Titles Registry forms and powers of attorney which are lodged for registration.   More...

In practice and courts – Queensland

Report on the Environmental Protection (Chain of Responsibility) Amendment Bill 2016
 The Queensland Parliament's Agriculture and Environment Committee has handed down their report: Report on the Environmental Protection (Chain of Responsibility) Amendment Bill | 2016 | Queensland  into the Government's Environmental Protection (Chain of Responsibility) Amendment Bill 2016.  The amendments aim to establish a legal chain of responsibility for the environmental protection of sites operated by companies in financial difficulty. 'Related persons' will be held responsible for remedying environmental defaults to ensure the taxpayer doesn't bear the cost of managing and rehabilitating sites. A clause which would have held landowners responsible for activity undertaken on their land has been rejected by the Committee.

Cases – Victoria

R V R (Aust) Pty Ltd v Tulla-Zone Pty Ltd (Civil Claims) [2016] VCAT 613
 Retail premises lease – tenant sells business – landlord demands payment of an earlier tenant's liability before granting new lease to purchaser – whether an agreement for 'key-money' and void – landlord also holds part of purchase price – landlord's counterclaim – Retail Leases Act 2003 ss 3, 23(2), 94.  More...

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