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News and Insights From Williams Hughes
THE ACCC CONTINUES ITS CRACK DOWN ON THE USE OF UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS
Uber Eats agreed this week to amend its contracts with restaurants following an investigation by the ACCC. From at least 2016, Uber Eats’ contracts made restaurants responsible for the delivery of food orders despite the restaurants having no control over delivery. Under the contracts, if f...
Franchising: Federal Court freezes assets of franchisor to protect franchisees who claim they were misled
Background Jump Swim is an Australian-based franchisor that sells franchises to franchisees wishing to operate their own Jump Swim School to supply learn-to-swim services to children. According to its website Jump Swim has over 65 swim school locations in Australia, and has established operations...
Employment law changes from 1 July 2019 - take note !
Employers should take note of changes to the employment landscape that take effect on 1 July 2019. Increase in the National Minimum Wage and modern award rates As discussed in a separate Williams + Hughes Insight, from 1 July 2019 the: national minimum wage will inc...
Keeping your financials “off the record”: from 1 July 2019 fewer companies need to lodge their financial accounts with ASIC
Recent changes to the Corporations Act 2001 remove the need for many companies to lodge annual financial accounts with ASIC. With effect from 1 July 2019, the criteria in the Corporations Act 2001 for classification as a “large proprietary company” have been changed. The revenue, asse...
Minimum wage increase to apply in Australia from 1 July 2019
All employers should be aware of the Fair Work Commission's (FWC's) decision regarding the 2018/2019 annual wage review. The FWC announced a 3% increase from the first full day period on or after 1 July 2019 to the: national minimum wage, which will increase to $740.80 per week or $...
Peanut Butter Battle of Jars and Trade Marks
Peanut butter is big business in Australia. In 2017 the Australian peanut butter market was worth $110 million in annual sales. A brand recognisable to many Australians - Kraft peanut butter - has been available for purchase in Australia since 1935. The Federal Court recently handed down ju...
The ACCC is targeting the Australian Wine Sector- winemakers must update their supply contracts with growers
On 3 June 2019 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the ACCC), Australia's competition and consumer protection regulator, released an Interim Report drawing attention to harmful market practices that could be restricting competition in some Australian wine grape growing region...
New laws imposing mandatory requirements for businesses that supply services: your T&C’s and website must be updated by 9 June 2019
Recent amendments to the Competition and Consumer Regulations 2010 impose new mandatory wording requirements in relation to the supply of services and also the supply of goods in combination with services. The new requirements take effect on 9 June 2019. Failure to comply with the ...
Security of Payment Reform in the Western Australian Building & Construction Industry
On 31 October 2018, the State Government’s Industry Advisory Group published its report on ‘Security of Payment Reform in the WA Building and Construction Industry’. The Report was a response to recent high-profile corporate collapses in the building and construction industry su...
Work Health & Safety Update - Increased Penalties Passed in Western Australia
On 3 October 2018, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (WA) and the Mines Safety and Inspection Amendment Act 2018 (WA) (collectively the Acts) came into effect, which significantly increased the current penalties for work health and safety offences in Western Australia. The ne...