Can you steal large sums from your employer and get away with it?
It was reported only few weeks that two former Harvey Norman staff members were slapped with 159 charges for the alleged theft of almost $600,000 from their employer. It was alleged in court that a man and a woman had obtained $594,000 by using fraudulent cheques, doing dodgy Eftpos transactions, and stealing cash when they […]
But I was only helping my friends and acquaintances!
Introduction If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, but calls itself a chicken, chances are an ornithologist would call it a duck. So, too, the Supreme Court of Queensland has recently heard a case about a man who called himself a consultant while helping out his friends and acquaintances with their […]
A Smack Which Lost a Mother Custody of Her Children
Introduction When it comes to disciplining children, a sticky topic is whether or not to use corporal means of punishment, like smacking. It’s a fact that some parents smack their children, while others find the practice completely unacceptable. A recent decision of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Jagic & Mattias [2022] FedCFamC2F 1820 (20 […]
Dealing with workplace insubordination.
It’s often colloquially referred to as “sticking it to the boss”. You know…the type of behaviour that can be gleaned from the plotlines of a TV show like The Office or a movie like Office Space. It usually happens when an employer gives an employee a task, but the employee flatly refuses to do it, whether it’s done sheepishly, […]
Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and Consequences of Breaching
What is Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO)? An ADVO seeks to modify the behaviour of the Defendant by imposing certain conditions. It is a Court order that seeks to protect a person from being abused (physically, verbally, or otherwise), threatened, and intimidated by their spouse or another person in the household. What should you do […]
BIG WIN FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS
The NSW Government’s Property Tax Reform Bill was passed in parliament on Thursday 10 November 2022. While these reforms will not come into operation until 16 January 2023, the government is introducing changes to the property tax regulations this weekend. As of the 12 November 2022, to encourage first home buyers to enter the property market, the Perrottet Governmentis […]
What are the two different types of Apprehended Violence Orders?
Imagine, if you will, that you have been abused and intimidated by someone more times than you can count. You want the violence to stop, but are terrified about what they might do if you report them. Finally, you work up the courage to go to the police. At the police station, an officer tells […]
Can I still get divorced in Australia when there are concurrent proceedings in India?
To apply for divorce in Australia, you must have been separated from your spouse for 12 months prior to filing your application for divorce. This requirement satisfies the ground for divorce being the irretrievablebreakdown of marriage. The Court must also have jurisdiction to hear the divorce application and make a divorce order in accordance with […]
Accepting and Receiving a Bribe – Corrupting benefit by a Commonwealth Public Official
On 5 July 2022 a former ATO employee and another individual were conveyed to Parramatta Local Court to have their matter heard after being investigated by a multi-agency taskforce headed by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity focusing on corruption. The two were brought before the court on bribery and corruption charges and it […]
The Critical Incident List in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) have introduced the Critical Incident List commencing from 6 June 2022, consists of an innovative process which aims to provide faster, urgent care for children in exceptionally difficult circumstances. These circumstances may involve a situation where urgent arrangements need to be made by a family member […]