Category: ABKJ Newsletters

It is common for any industry, including the legal industry, to be the subject of myths believed by the general population. This is not helped by the fact that the laws and regulations which govern our society are many and not always easy to understand, and that popular culture tends to provide more entertaining representations of actual roles. For example, popular legal dramas such as Suits, Boston Legal, The Good Wife, Rake, Law & Order and so on have provided audiences with memorable moments of witty legal humour and unforgettable characters and catch-phrases. As a result, audiences can have unrealistic… Continue Reading

The convenience and flexibility of split-payment arrangements are very enticing for many Australian shoppers. “Buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay, ZipMoney and Ourpay offer retail consumers the ability to take home items instantly and pay them off in four fortnightly, interest-free instalments. Over the past three years since its launch, the popularity of Afterpay has continuously grown exponentially. More than 10,000 retailers offer Afterpay in-store and/or online, and over 2.3 million Australians have used the platform during a transaction. Recently, Afterpay has expanded from solely servicing the retail market, with airlines such as Jetstar now allowing customers to… Continue Reading

Phones the country over can be heard buzzing as emails filter through at an almost constant rate. Websites are reaching out to remind people to ‘stay in touch’ or ‘let them know that you want to hear more’. The reason for this sudden burst of contact from online service providers and websites is not merely a meaningless reminder of their existence, but actually a result of new and strict privacy laws implemented recently in Europe. These laws have been introduced under the EU General Protection Data Regulation (GDPR). What is the GDPR? The General Protection Data Regulation (or GDPR) is a… Continue Reading

Welcome to the March 2016 ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Do you disagree with your property valuation? Reasonableness Of Body Corporate Decisions “The Long Road” Charity Event – 20 March 2016 ABKJ On Social Media Do you disagree with your property valuation? On 2 March 2016 the Valuer-General commenced issuing statutory land valuation notices for all land in Queensland. The effective date of the valuations will be 30 June 2016 and they will be the basis for determining your rates and any land tax. If you do not agree with the valuation, it is vital that you lodge an objection… Continue Reading

Welcome to the April 2015 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… When Spouses Say “You’ll Get Nothing” Recovery of Unpaid Body Corporate Levies Supporters of “The Long Road” Charity Event When Spouses Say “You’ll Get Nothing” We are approached by clients on a regular basis who are undergoing relationship breakdowns and whose spouse or partner has said to them “I have spoken to a lawyer and they said that you will get nothing” This is rarely correct. Even if all the property is owned by your partner, you may be entitled to something. The amount of your entitlement… Continue Reading

Welcome to the October 2013 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… New Gold Coast law places obligations on waterfront property owners Circumstances Changed? – Consider your will Staff Announcements New Gold Coast law places obligations on waterfront property owners A new Gold Coast local law imposes obligations on the owners of waterfront properties, and has significant implications for both the sellers and purchasers in the event of a sale of such a property On 11 June 2013, Gold Coast City Council enacted a new local law which created new obligations for waterfront property owners. The purpose of the… Continue Reading

Welcome to the Winter 2013 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Firm Announcements Unclaimed money – Do you have any? ABKJ congratulates Mr Brian Cronin Firm Announcements ABKJ is pleased to announce two changes at the firm. Firstly, Anthony Kyle (known as Tony), has been promoted from Associate Solicitor to Partner of the firm. Tony is a Queensland Law Society Business Law Accredited Specialist who practises in the areas of commercial and business law, property law, body corporate law and succession law. Tony will join existing partners, Michael Kyle and David Brown. Secondly, the firm is pleased to… Continue Reading

Welcome to the December 2010 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Case in point: A lady’s got my dingo Neighbourhood Disputes Resolution Bill 2010 To ‘tweet’ or not to ‘tweet’? Case in point: A lady’s got my dingo A landmark case highlights the importance of legislated regulations that protects Australian fauna and flora Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the dingo is declared an indigenous Australian species, with sections 17 and 62 instructing that dingoes cannot be interfered with in a protected area unless specific permissions have been granted. Jennifer Louise Parkhurst, 43, of Rainbow Beach was found… Continue Reading