In the media – National
Treasurer blocks sale of Ausgrid to Chinese, Hong Kong
bidders
Scott Morrison makes a preliminary decision to block the sale of
New South Wales electricity provider Ausgrid to Chinese and Hong
Kong bidders, citing "national security concerns", in a
major setback to Premier Mike Baird.
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(NSW Government) More...
Australian banks have made a mockery of Paris Agreement,
Market Forces says
Australia's big four banks have gone against their 2°C
commitments made at the Paris COP21 by funnelling $5.6 billion into
fossil fuel projects since December 2015, Market Forces has said
(04 August 2016).
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In the media – Victoria
Hoddle Street Designs released to Public
The Andrews Labor Government has today released preliminary designs
for four intersections to be upgraded along the Hoddle Street-Punt
Road corridor. The designs are now open for community input and
Victorians can have their say on the designs by visiting here.
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Protecting Victoria's Heritage
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has launched a new heritage
grants program that will support the repair and conservation of
'at risk' heritage places and objects included in the
Victorian Heritage Register (08 August 2016).
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Dexus receives Approval for Controversial $300m
Tower
Dexus Property Group has received planning approval for its $300
million apartment project in Melbourne's CBD, according to The
Australian Financial Review. The planning minister Richard Wynne
approved the project in late July this year according to the
planning register (05 August 2016).
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State Inspection Program 2016-17
Consumer Affairs Victoria will inspect more than 5,600 Victorian
businesses this financial year, as part of a state-wide inspection
program for compliance with laws; protection of consumers by
removing unsafe products from sale and investigation of breaches of
our laws including conveyancers, domestic builders (contractual
requirements) and estate agents (trust accounts, property sales,
property and office management) (03 August 2016).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
PCA: 2016 Mid-Year Office Market Report
Queensland
With 115,000 sqm of new office space coming online over the past
six months, it is not surprising that Brisbane's vacancy rate
has increased from 14.9 per cent to 16.9 per cent. Brisbane's
fringe has held relatively steady, with a slight increase in
vacancy from 12.7 to 12.9 per cent (04 August 2016). A copy of the
2016 Mid-Year Office Market Report can be purchased
here.
In practice and courts – Commonwealth
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2016
Title Registry Alerts No 128 - New Requirements for paper
instruments and documents executed and witnessed outside Australia
from 1 August 2016
Titles Registry Alert 125 and part 60, paragraph 60-0390 of
Land Title Practice Manual set out Registry requirements and
practice relating to witnessing paper instruments and documents
outside Australia. Please be advised that these updated practices
will be mandatory for documents executed on or after 1 August
2016.
Office of State Revenue: Changes to the Duties
Act
The Duties Act 2001 is amended to: extend the transfer
duty concession for intergenerational transfers of
family primary production businesses by removing the
requirement that the transaction be by way of gift, from 1 July
2016 and impose 3% additional foreign acquirer duty, from 1 October
2016.
Cases – Victoria
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport &
Resources v MG Pastoral Company Pty Ltd [2016] VSC
456
LAND VALUATION AND COMPENSATION – Compulsory acquisition of
land – Trial of separate questions relating to whether the
respondent had an interest in the acquired land – Court held
that respondent had no interest in acquired land – No final
orders made – Additional basis to claim interest in acquired
land identified after completion of trial of the separate questions
– Lease and occupation of land for farming purposes –
Application to reopen trial of separate questions –
Inadvertence and misapprehension of facts – Interests of
justice – Public interest in the finality of litigation
– Land Acquisition and Compensation Act s 3(1).
Owners Corporation SP24474 v Watkins (Owners Corporations)
[2016] VCAT 1312
Special rule prohibiting pets from common property and private
lots; owners corporation seeking order removing pet; special rules
invalid; application dismissed.
Ward v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and
Regulation) [2016] VCAT 1307
Review and Regulation List – Land Tax – Principal place
of residence exemption – applicant a world-traveller whose
wife lives in Canada – applicant occupied property for
approximately two months each relevant year – applicant
strongly connected to relevant property – finding property is
applicant's principal place of residence – Land Tax
Act 2005 s.53, 54(1)(a), 56(1)(a) and (b).
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