Internet service provider (ISP) iiNet has claimed victory in a major legal battle over whether it should be held responsible for its customers downloading illegal content. In a landmark case, brought against iiNet by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), Justice Dennis Cowdroy found iiNet was not responsible for the infringements of its users […]
Is tax time a dreaded chore? A combination of annual accounts and audit fears? Mark Muller and Peter Bembrick look at how you can maximise the time and effort spent on preparing annual accounts and becoming audit ready by turning this into a valuable activity for improving your business. While not all businesses need to […]
The government’s Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) recently signed the financial intelligence units of the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, and St Kitts and Nevis to memoranda of understanding (MOU), allowing access to financial information for Australian law enforcement and other relevant government agencies. The MOU will assist in the detection and prosecution of […]
While the financial benefits of being a sole trader are more enticing than those of being a private company, the business risks can be scary. Gavin Dixon explains why setting up as a private company is a business owner’s best protection from liability. The biggest decision many young, aspiring entrepreneurs faced when setting up the […]
When it comes to retail leases, most business owners would agree there is currently a severe imbalance between landlords and tenants. But changes to the Retail Leases Act could change retail lease negotiations in New South Wales. Although the present rent regulations in New South Wales are aimed at stabilising tenancies, they are often arbitrary. […]
Do you know your Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) obligations about workplace safety training? Any idea what ignorance of OHS training obligations could cost you? And what it might cost employees, perhaps serious injury or even their lives? Here are the crucial OHS clauses. Employees have a legal right to be sufficiently trained to undertake […]
After all the work you’ve channelled into securing an international partner, you don’t want your export relationship to sour over a disagreement. Here’s a checklist for exporters on how to prevent international disputes and how to resolve international disputes. Making a decision to export is a huge step, but even after researching the market and […]
Online business offers numerous benefits, but also opens up a range of online fraud risks. Here are some of the dangers of online business and the security measures to protect your business effectively and affordably. Problems such as computer viruses, spam emails, identity theft and online fraud get frequent and lurid coverage in the mainstream […]
Exporting is a complicated business, especially with different tax traps waiting in every country. The most common mistakes include failing to protect Australian assets, lack of compliance with local country tax rules, and entering into an arrangement with an unreliable local agent, says Merv Burton, William Buck tax services director. “Many businesses are not aware […]
SMEs need to know how to comply with privacy laws that protect personal information. Here’s a guide to privacy clauses, so your business meets its legal obligations. With the evolution of the information age and the constant development of new technologies that enable invasion of privacy on unprecedented levels, privacy law has become one of […]
