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Be informed before making personal and business decisions

In Australia, restraint clauses are a common element in employment contracts. These provisions aim to protect the interests of an employer by restricting the employee’s ability to move to a competitor (non-compete clauses), share information (non-disclosure...

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Australia operates a free market economy, giving businesses the autonomy to set their own prices for goods and services. In a free market, prices typically rise with inflation and increased production and transportation costs. Additionally, a business can...

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In Australia, employers can be held legally responsible for the wrongful acts of their employees committed within the scope of their employment. The doctrine of vicarious liability means that employers have accountability for their employee’s conduct,...

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A demotion is a reduction of an employee’s position or remuneration within an organisation because of the employee’s poor performance or in response to a change in business needs. Generally speaking, when an employee is notified of the demotion, they have...

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In Australia, according to a 2017 Australian Bureau of Statistics survey, 73% of women work for at least some of their pregnancy. This means that there are many thousands of pregnant women in Australian workplaces each year. It is important to know that...

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Sexual harassment is legally defined as unwelcome sexual advances and conduct that would make a person reasonably feel humiliated, intimidated, or offended. According to a 2022 national survey commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission, sexual...

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The Family Law Act 1975 (the Act) has long emphasised the well-being, safety, and developmental needs of children as the critical factors in any parenting dispute. A 2023 amendment to this legislation has further emphasised that the best interests of the...

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As the Coronavirus pandemic demonstrated, vaccinations can be a divisive issue, particularly when a public health directive contradicts strongly held personal beliefs. When parents share parental responsibility for a child, they should both agree before their...

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In parenting matters before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia, the paramount consideration must always be the best interests of the child. A parent’s drug habit is a relevant issue in a family law...

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Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproductive treatment, whereby a woman carries a foetus to term on behalf of another person. People most commonly enter into surrogacy arrangements because they are unable to carry a child to term, or because their medical...

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In Australia, approximately 43% of adults have experienced a mental disorder. This suggests that many parents are experiencing challenging mental health while caring for their children. If a family is involved in a parenting dispute before the Federal Circuit...

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In Australia, parents have a legal responsibility to financially provide for their children. Typically, this responsibility ends when the child turns 18 and is a legal adult who is presumably able to provide for themselves. However, there are some...

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In Victoria, a person who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment may be released before they have completed that sentence if a non-parole period has been set. Decisions about parole in Victoria are made by the Adult Parole Board and the Youth Parole...

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On 27 March 2024, the Northern Territory government declared an emergency situation for the “High-risk area — Alice Springs precinct”. The declaration imposed a youth curfew on people under the age of 18, requiring them to stay outside of the high-risk...

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In New South Wales, a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention may be granted parole when they reach the end of their non-parole period. This page deals with parole in New South Wales. What is parole? Parole is the conditional release of...

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In Queensland, prisoners who have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment or detention that include a non-parole period may be released on parole. Parole can be court-ordered or board-ordered. This page deals with applying for parole in Queensland....

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In Australia, de facto couples enjoy most of the same benefits as married couples. Family law has evolved in Australia to recognise de facto relationships and provide protections for both the members of a de facto relationship and the children born into such...

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In the context of family law in Australia, the date of separation is when a married or de facto couple ends their relationship. While this can be hard to pinpoint, it is a crucial benchmark in a property settlement and divorce proceeding timeline. Why does...

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In Australia, parents have a legal responsibility to support their children financially. When it comes to separated or divorced parents, this often means that one parent pays the other child support. A child support arrangement can be agreed privately between...

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It is quite common for a parent to state that they want to pursue “full custody” of their child. In fact, Australia does not have the concept of “custody” as part of the family law. Rather, a parent who is seeking to have the full care of a child,...

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In the Northern Territory, decisions about parole are made by the NT Parole Board under the Parole Act 1971. This page deals with applying for parole in the NT. What is parole? Parole is the conditional release into the community of a prisoner who has not...

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The federal government recently announced its intention to introduce legislation, criminalizing the practice known as ‘doxxing’ following some high-profile instances of doxxing in Australia. Doxxing is the malicious and nonconsensual publication of...

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On Thursday, the New South Wales government passed the Bail and Crimes Amendment Bill 2024. The controversial legislation includes changes to bail laws affecting young people charged with certain offences, as well as a new offence consisting of committing...

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In the ACT, when a court sentences an offender to imprisonment for a term of more than 12 months, it must set a non-parole period unless doing so is inappropriate. When a prisoner reaches the end of their non-parole period, they may apply to the Sentence...

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A property settlement is an important stage after a couple separates or divorces. To ensure a fair and equitable division of assets, it is usually necessary to first establish the monetary worth of all assets, including real estate, personal belongings,...

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In Australia, divorce is a significant step that a former couple can take if they satisfy several legal requirements. The Family Law Act 1975 creates the legal framework surrounding divorce and the requirements that must be met before a couple can dissolve...

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Confidentiality agreements play an important role in protecting sensitive information in family law matters across Australia. These agreements, otherwise known as non-disclosure agreements, are enforceable contracts between parties. Parties agree not to...

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Child abduction is a distressing reality for many families around the world. In Australia, it is particularly rare for a child to be kidnapped by a stranger, but more common for a child to be abducted by a parent or other family member. Australia has...

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In Australia, most people consult a family law solicitor when they get divorced (or when they separate permanently from a de facto partner). Solicitors help their clients navigate the legal complexities that often arise in property and parenting matters...

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Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and the United Arab Emirates permit a person to practice polygamy. However, even if a polygamous marriage is...

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It is quite common for someone living in Australia to have been married overseas, whether because the couple previously lived overseas, a spouse was born in another country, or because an Australian couple chose a destination wedding. In fact, some couples...

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Family law proceedings, especially property settlement and parenting matters, are complex and emotionally charged issues. These matters can be further complicated when one or both parties face bankruptcy during these proceedings. Under the Bankruptcy Act...

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Annulment is a process whereby a marriage is legally declared null and void. This is relatively uncommon in Australia. While divorce dissolves a marriage, annulment erases the marriage because it was legally voidable or void from the beginning. Children born...

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When a couple divorces in Australia, they should also separate their finances through a property settlement. While the concept of a property settlement immediately suggests the division of assets, it is important to note that this process also includes the...

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Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), family violence is defined as violent or threatening behaviour that controls or coerces a family member or causes a family member to be fearful. Sadly, a high number of family law cases involve accusations of this kind of...

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Assault offences fall into the category of offences against the person. An assault may consist of unwanted physical contact or a threat of unwanted physical contact. In Queensland, assault offences are set out in the Criminal Code 1899. That Act also contains...

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In Victoria, there are several different offences involving assault. Each offence is defined differently and carries a different maximum penalty. While most assault offences can be finalised in the Magistrates Court, some assault matters must be committed to...

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When you are a parent, a constant concern at the back of your mind is “What will happen to my child when I’m not around?” As your child grows, proves their capability, and starts taking care of themselves, this fear gives way to pride and...

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When a person dies intestate (without a will) in New South Wales, their estate is distributed according to the rules set out in the Succession Act 2006. This page sets out how estates are administered under intestate law in New South Wales. Who is intestate?...

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A person who is the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident may apply for a visa from onshore or offshore on this basis. Under the Migration Act 1958, there are different classes of visas that may be available in this situation...

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A refugee visa is a visa granted to a person who is outside their country of origin and fears persecution in that country. In Australia, refugee visas are now granted only to those applying from offshore. This page outlines the laws around refugee visas and...

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In New South Wales, when a person is charged with criminal offences they may be granted bail under the Bail Act 2013. Bail is the conditional release of an accused person before their matter has been finalised. This page outlines the laws surrounding applying...

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The New South Wales government recently announced that it is introducing a new criminal offence relating to family violence matters. Under the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022, which will come into effect in July 2024, coercive control...

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In Australia, discrimination is prohibited in a range of areas of life under legislation, both at federal level and at state and territory level. Unlawful discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race and disability. Age discrimination...

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Disability discrimination happens when someone who has a disability or is perceived as having a disability is treated less favourably than a person without a disability would be treated under the same circumstances. Discrimination may be direct or indirect...

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Self-defence is a well-established common law defence to any charge that involves the unlawful use of force. It is based on the principle that individuals cannot be expected to remain passive in the face of a violent assault or a threatened violent assault....

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On 6 November 2023, the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 passed the Australian Senate. The Bill makes significant changes to how the family law system deals with parenting matters. This year, parliament also passed the Family Law (Information Sharing) Bill...

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In some circumstances, a person who is charged with a criminal offence in South Australia can rely on the defence of sudden or extraordinary emergency. This defence is based on an argument that the accused had to act as they did in response to an emergency...

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The defence that most people think of as ‘duress’ is known as ‘compulsion’ in Tasmania. The defence of compulsion applies where a person was essentially ‘forced’ to carry out a criminal act by another person. This page outlines the defence of...

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When a person is charged with a summary criminal offence in Victoria, the matter may be finalised in the Magistrates Court. If the accused pleads guilty, they will be sentenced by a magistrate. If they plead not guilty, the matter will be listed for a...

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When a person is charged with criminal offences, they may be granted bail by the police or by a court. If a person is not granted bail, they are remanded in custody until the matter is finalised or until bail is granted. This page deals with bail in...

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On 8 November, the High Court of Australia decided the matter of NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, finding that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful under Australia’s Constitution. The decision resulted in...

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A de facto relationship is a relationship where two partners who are not married live together on a genuine domestic basis. De facto relationships in most of Australia are governed by the Family Law Act 1975 but those in Western Australia are governed by the...

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A permanent resident is a person who has been granted a permanent Australian visa that allows them to live in the country indefinitely. A person may be apply for and be granted a permanent visa from offshore or from onshore. This page deals with permanent...

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Fishing in Australian waters is regulated by the Fisheries Management Act 1991, which sets out the laws on fishing rights and fishing permits and contains a number of criminal offences that are committed when the Act is not complied with. This page deals with...

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If you are shipping goods between locations, a bill of lading (BOL) is the most important document that you need to understand. A bill of lading is a legal document that accompanies the goods that are being transported and details the type of goods, quantity...

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In the NT, there are various offences related to drink driving contained in the Road Traffic Act 1972. A person who is caught drink driving in the NT may receive a traffic infringement or a summons to attend court. This page deals with the offences, penalties...

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In South Australia, the Road Traffic Act 1961 contains the offences that a person may be charged with if they are caught drink driving. These offences attract fines, licence disqualification periods and terms of imprisonment. This page deals with drink...

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Murder and manslaughter are among the most serious criminal offences in the Northern Territory. They are dealt with by the Supreme Court and can attract lengthy terms of imprisonment. This page deals with murder and manslaughter in the NT. Murder in the NT...

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When a person is sentenced for criminal offences in New South Wales, there is a range of penalties that can be imposed. The most serious of these is a term of imprisonment. In New South Wales, a term of imprisonment can be structured in a number of different...

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When a person dies leaving a valid will, that will may subsequently be contested by someone who was expecting to inherit from the deceased’s estate. In Victoria, the Administration and Probate Act 1958 governs who can contest a will and the circumstances...

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In Australia, the laws surrounding the age at which young people can legally consent to sex are different in each state and territory. In Queensland, the age of consent is 16. This age is the same regardless of the type of sexual activity and regardless of...

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In Queensland, deceased estates and wills are governed by the Succession Act 1981. A family member of a deceased person who left behind a valid will may contest the will on the basis that the deceased failed to make adequate provision for them. This is known...

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When a person is sentenced for criminal offences in Queensland, the most severe penalty that can be imposed is a term of imprisonment or detention. A term of imprisonment may be imposed in several different ways in Queensland, including actual jail time, a...

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A duty of care is an obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to another person. There is a range of situations in everyday life where a person owes a duty of care to another person. Where a duty of care is breached, the tort of negligence is...

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When a person dies and leaves behind a will, a family member may challenge or contest that will. Every state and territory of Australia has different procedures for contesting and challenging a will. This page deals with contesting a will in South Australia....

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A person who is unfairly dismissed from employment in Tasmania may have a claim either under state law or under federal law. The system an employee is covered by is determined by the employer they were working for. This page outlines the unfair dismissal laws...

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In Tasmania, the most severe penalty that a court can impose for criminal offences is imprisonment. There are four prisons in Tasmania. These are the Rison Prison Complex, which includes the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison, The Hobart Reception Prison and...

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A person who is charged with criminal offences in South Australia may contest the charge by advancing a legal defence or a factual defence. A legal defence, such as duress or self defence, exists where the accused admits committed the physical act but claims...

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In New South Wales, a person who is 16 or older can legally consent to sex with another person who is 16 or over. However, if a young person under 18 is under the ‘special care’ of another person, they cannot legally consent to sex with that person. A...

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In Australia, directors’ duties are primarily governed by the Corporations Act 2001 and common law principles. They may also be regulated by the company’s constitution and by shareholder agreements. Directors duties exist to promote good governance of...

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In Victoria, perjury is a serious criminal offence that can attract a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment. This page deals with the elements, penalties for and procedures for dealing with charges of perjury in Victoria. Legislation Perjury in Victoria is...

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Medical negligence exists when a medical practitioner breaches their duty of care towards a patient by failing to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to them. When a patient suffers harm as a result of medical care, they may (but do not necessarily)...

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The most common legal defence to offences involving the use of force is self-defence. Self-defence is a legal defence that recognises that an individual cannot be expected to remain passive in the face of a physical attack or threatened attack and that people...

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Medical negligence exists when a medical practitioner fails to take reasonable care to avoid harming a patient. A person may take action for medical negligence because they have suffered a physical or psychological injury or an illness as a result of the...

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In Australia, the law as to what age a young person can legally have sex is different in each state and territory. In Victoria, the general age of consent is 16. The Crimes Act 1958 sets out various criminal offences involving sexual activity between an adult...

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In New South Wales, the Crimes Act 1900 contains a range of assault offences. These range from common assault to assault causing death. This page outlines the assault offences that exist in New South Wales, the penalties that apply to them and the processes...

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A person who pleads not guilty to a criminal offence may rely on a legal defence or a factual defence. A factual defence is a version of events that is inconsistent with the accused having carried out the acts alleged – for example, an alibi. A legal...

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It is common for criminal offences and traffic offences to be dealt with by issuing a fine. A fine is a financial penalty that may be given by the police, by a court, or by another authority. This page deals with fines as a sentencing option in Australia....

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When a court sentences a person for a low-level offence, it may decide to impose a good behaviour bond or undertaking. This is a penalty that consists of releasing the offender without further consequences provided they sign an agreement to comply with...

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In Australia, the harshest penalty that courts can impose for criminal offences is a sentence of imprisonment. A sentence of imprisonment may be for a fixed term, or it may be indefinite. In some states and territories, a sentence of imprisonment may be...

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In Australia, privacy law is regulated by legislation at commonwealth, state and territory levels. This includes the commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982. These acts are designed to protect the privacy of individuals by...

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An eligible person may challenge a will in the Supreme Court in a situation where there is doubt that the will is legally valid. A will may be challenged for a range of reasons and the process for challenging a will is different in each state and territory....

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When a person contests a will, they dispute the fairness of the will’s provisions. This is different from challenging a will, which occurs when there is doubt that a will is legally valid. Each state and territory has different legislation around contesting...

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An executor is a person who is nominated in a will to administer the deceased estate. It may be a solicitor, accountant or a family member of friend of the deceased. The executor administers the estate, distributing assets and discharging debts. It can be a...

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On 21 September this year, Western Australia became the final Australian jurisdiction to fully decriminalize abortion. With the passage of the Abortion Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, laws on abortion in Western Australia now include abortion ‘on demand’...

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In Australia, for a will to be valid, the testator must have had testamentary capacity at the time the will was made. This means that they must have been of sound mind and capable of understanding the effect of the will. This page deals with testamentary...

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In Victoria, traffic offences are governed by the Road Safety Act 1986. Section 18 of that act makes it an offence to drive without a licence. The penalties that apply to this offence vary depending on the situation. This page deals with driving unlicensed in...

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In New South Wales, drivers incur demerit points if they commit driving offences. These points are recorded against the driver’s licence in addition to the imposition of a fine and sometimes a term of imprisonment. The demerit point system is designed...

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A restricted licence is a driver’s licence that is issued to a person who has been disqualified from driving for traffic offences but needs to continue driving for limited purposes. In Queensland, a restricted driver’s licence may be issued to a person...

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Family law orders are binding on all parties regardless of whether they are made on a final basis or on an interim basis. It is a serious offence to breach an order without a reasonable excuse. If a party breaches a family law order, the other party has...

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When a married couple or a de facto couple separates, an application may be made to a court for property orders. These are orders adjusting the distribution of assets between the two parties in a way that is fair and equitable. An application for property...

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When parents separate, it is often necessary to put in place formal arrangements about where the children are to live and who is to be legally responsible for them. This can be done by agreement between the parents or by applying to the Federal Circuit and...

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Any document that is filed in a family law matter is required to be served on all other parties. There are different rules for service of different types of documents. Some documents must be served personally while others are permitted to be posted or emailed...

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Divorce is the legal process used to end a marriage. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia are the only courts that can grant divorces in Australia. This page provides information about getting a divorce...

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In Western Australia, a person who is caught drink driving may receive an infringement notice and incur demerit points, or they may be summoned to attend court. Drink driving offences are punishable by significant fines, terms of imprisonment and periods of...

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A ‘letter of demand’ is the legal term for a letter that is sent to a party that owes another party money. A letter of demand is usually sent as the final step in attempting to recover funds that are owed prior to commencing legal proceedings. This page...

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When a person is caught drink driving in the ACT, they must appear before the Magistrates Court. The court may impose a fine and a disqualification period, or even a term of imprisonment. The amount of the fine and the length of the disqualification period...

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In Victoria, a person who is caught drink driving will face very harsh penalties including significant fines, periods of licence disqualification and even terms of imprisonment. Everyone who is found guilty of a drink driving offence in Victoria is also...

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In New South Wales, a person who is caught drink driving faces a fine, a period of licence suspension and a possible term of imprisonment. This article deals with the penalties and procedures for dealing with drink driving offences in New South Wales. Court...

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In Queensland, a person will be charged with an offence if they are caught operating a vehicle on a public road or road-related area while under the influence of alcohol, or with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that is higher than the maximum prescribed BAC for...

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Lawyers are often asked whether it is lawful to photograph someone without their permission. In this era of social media, it is very common for photographs to be taken and circulated without the subject’s permission. Some of these images may even have been...

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A tort is a civil wrong that is done to one party by another and that causes the victim to suffer harm or loss. The claimant in a tort matter may sue for damages or other forms of relief. Many torts are created under the common law, but there are also...

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The civil standard of proof is ‘on the balance of probabilities’. This standard of proof is codified in the Commonwealth Evidence Act 1995 and in the Evidence Acts of some of the states and territories. This page outlines what the civil standard of proof...

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In simple terms, a contract is an agreement between two or more parties based on offer and acceptance. A contract may be in a written form, or it may be oral. For a contract to be valid, six elements must be present. This article deals with contracts in...

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Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of real estate from one party to another. It involves a series of legal and administrative steps to ensure a smooth and valid transfer of property rights. Conveyancing can be complex so it is...

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Before 1986, all babies that were born in Australia were automatically Australian citizens. However, today, when a child is born in Australia to parents who are non-citizens, the immigration status of the baby depends on the type of visa or status enjoyed by...

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Deportation from Australia and removal from Australia are the two ways that a non-citizen can be forcibly removed from the country. An order for an Australian permanent resident’s deportation can be made under section 206 of the Migration Act 1958.  In...

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All applicants for Australian visas must pass the character test prior to the visa being granted. The character test exists to ensure that all entrants to Australia are of good character and do not pose a danger to the community. The test is set out in...

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Most applicants for Australian visas must fulfil the Migration Health Requirement before they will be granted a visa. The Migration Health Requirement involves different criteria for health assessments, which are determined by the length of the proposed...

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When a person is charged with a criminal offence, they are entitled to plead not guilty. The prosecution bears the burden of proving that an accused person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This page deals with pleading not guilty to criminal offences in...

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A person may be required to give evidence in a criminal matter in a number of situations. This includes where the person is the alleged victim of the offence, where they were involved in the events in some way or where they simply heard or saw something that...

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Whenever a person is attending any court in Australia, they must be mindful of the rules of court etiquette. This is the case regardless of whether they are attending court as an accused person, as a witness or only as an observer. If a person does not show...

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The criminal standard of proof is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’. This is the highest standard of proof in our judicial system. This page outlines what the criminal standard of proof entails. Different standards of proof Our legal system has two different...

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In many cases, when a person is charged with a criminal offence, they may want to finalise the matter quickly by pleading guilty. This is especially likely to be the case if the offence is minor and the situation is relatively uncomplicated. However, before...

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Employees in Australia are covered by legislative protections at both federal and state/territory level. The national employment laws are contained in the Fair Work Act 2009, as well as in anti-discrimination legislation and in the common law. This page...

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When an employee who falls under the national workplace relations system is unfairly dismissed from their employment, they may bring a claim under the unfair dismissal provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009. However, if a dismissal is a ‘genuine...

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Whenever a person carries out work for someone else, it is important for both parties to be clear about the legal status of the working relationship. In some situations, when a person is engaged to carry out paid work, they have the status of an employee. In...

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A common issue that arises in employment law is unlawful dismissal. Unlawful dismissal occurs when an employee is terminated under circumstances that have been expressly made unlawful. This includes termination based on discrimination on a prescribed ground...

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The age of criminal responsibility is the minimum age that a person can be arrested, summonsed, charged with, and found guilty of a criminal offence. Up until 1 August 2023, the age of criminal responsibility was 10 in all Australian states and territories....

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The Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 passed the House of Representatives in May and is currently before the Australian Senate. The Bill was drafted based on the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Final Report No 135 and seeks to...

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On 24 August 2023, the Queensland government passed an ‘urgent’ amendment to the Youth Justice Act 1992, making it lawful for young people who have been refused bail to be detained in police watch-houses indefinitely. The change has caused widespread...

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