Oceania: Real Estate and Construction

Transferring a commercial lease to a family member may seem straightforward, but it involves the same legal formalities and landlord consent requirements as any other commercial lease assignment. Getting the process wrong can put both the assignor and assignee at serious legal and financial risk. This article explains what you need to know about assigning a commercial lease to a family member in Australia.

Commercial lease agreements are binding contracts that define the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. Unlike residential leases, commercial leases often involve longer terms...

Ambiguous make good provisions are a leading source of commercial lease disputes, as courts interpret undefined terms from context rather than the parties’ intent, often producing outcomes neither party anticipated and litigation costs that exceed the cost of careful drafting.

Australia's 2026-27 federal budget introduces sweeping immigration reforms that will reshape how skilled workers are selected, where temporary visa holders can buy property, and how quickly migrant tradespeople can enter the workforce. The changes mark the first overhaul of the skilled migration points test in over a decade and signal a strategic shift toward prioritizing onshore applicants already living in Australia. What do these policy adjustments mean for employers, migrants, and the broader trajectory

Australia's 2026-27 Budget delivers the most significant tax reform in 25 years, fundamentally reshaping property investment incentives through negative gearing restrictions and capital gains tax changes while navigating a global oil crisis pushing inflation toward 5%.

From 1 July 2026, Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing regime will extend to property developers who sell real estate directly without engaging agents.

Case highlights the role that land use characterisation plays in accommodating modern land use practices.

With multi-generation farming roots, Stephen grew up on a dairy farm in northern Victoria.

his new class of lease was intended to address the limited scope of permitted land use under pastoral leases and to facilitate additional uses of Crown land.

Thoughts on operation of Qld's "new" Property Law Act – in particular the new concept of the Seller Disclosure regime.

A clear, well-documented disclosure process on behalf of the real estate agent preserves the integrity of the sales process.

Purchasers in NSW have no s66S cooling off period rights where a contract for sale of residential property is formed pursuant to a call option or a put option.