ByLawyers News and Updates

1 January updates – All states

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1 January updates are always a big focus for By Lawyers. While the profession takes a well-earned break By Lawyers remains hard at work ensuring our publications are updated for legislative and regulatory changes that take effect from the new year.

Updates

This year’s 1 January updates for relevant jurisdictions include:

Land tax

In New South Wales and Victoria, land tax is calculated for the calendar year. Threshold values increase annually.

In New South Wales, the 2022 threshold combined land value has increased to $822,000 for all liable land. Special trusts and non-concessional companies are excepted. A marginal tax rate of 1.6% of the aggregate taxable value above the tax-free threshold, plus $100 applies from 1 January. If the aggregate taxable value exceeds the premium rate threshold of $5,026,000 then $61,876 is payable, plus a marginal tax rate of 2% over that amount.

In Victoria, the tax-free threshold for general land tax has increased to $300,000. The trust surcharge threshold remains at $25,000.

All relevant commentary and precedents in the By Lawyers Conveyancing and Property and Trusts guides for each relevant state will be updated for these new threshold amounts from 1 January.

By Lawyers Contract of sale of land

The 2022 edition of the By Lawyers contract will be available 1 January in the Sale of real property publications for Victoria and New South Wales. The contract is located in the Contract folder on the matter plan.

Leases and subleases

In New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia the 2022 editions of lease and sub-lease precedents will be available from 1 January. these are found in the Leases – Act for Lessor section of each Leases publication.

Keeping up to date

In addition to our 1 January updates, By Lawyers updates our publications for 1 June and other regulated adjustments where necessary.

Of course we always update our content for relevant legislative amendments and other legal developments throughout the year, in all jurisdictions, as required.

Keeping up to date is one of the ways By Lawyers help our subscribers enjoy practice – and holidays – more!

The team at By Lawyers wishes everyone a prosperous and safe 2022.

Sexual harassment – FED

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New provisions for the prevention of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace have commenced.

Part 6-4B of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) now provides that workers can apply to the Fair Work Commission for orders to stop sexual harassment as well as workplace bullying. To be eligible to make an application a worker must be employed in a constitutionally-covered business.

There is no time limit for making an application for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment at work. Section 789FF of the Fair Work Act 2009 provides that for the Fair Work Commission to be able to make an order there needs to be a risk that the applicant will continue to be bullied or sexually harassed at work. If the worker no longer has a connection to the workplace, an order cannot be made as there is no future risk of the relevant behaviour occurring.

‘Sexually harass’, for these purposes, has the same meaning as in s 28A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).

Examples of sexual harassment include:

  • inappropriate behaviour including staring, leering, loitering or unwelcome touching;
  • suggestive comments, jokes or gestures based on sex or a person’s private life or body;
  • communicating sexually explicit material in person or electronically.

The objectionable conduct must occur at work, which is not defined but is tied to work activities wherever they occur and is not limited to the confines of a physical workplace. It includes entering, moving about and leaving a workplace.

The application needs to be lodged with the Fair Work Commission using the prescribed form: Application for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment (or both).

The employer needs to respond within 7 days of being served using the prescribed form: Response from an employer or principal to an application for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment (or both).

The alleged perpetrator will receive a copy of the application and be invited to respond within 7 days using the prescribed form: Response from a person named as having engaged in bullying or sexual harassment (or both).

All the prescribed forms are available in the Workplace bullying and sexual harassment folder on the matter plan in the By Lawyers Employment Law publication. The commentary has also been updated accordingly.

Disclosure – Family Law – FED

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Rule 6.02 of the Family Law Rules 2021 provides that a party must file a written notice stating that they have read Parts 6.1 and 6.2 of the Rules and that they will comply with their disclosure obligations. This written notice is given in the Undertaking as to Disclosure form that each party is required to file before the first court date unless the court orders otherwise.

New precedent Enclosure – Parts 6.1 and 6.2 of the Family Law Rules 2021 conveniently sets out all of the rules in Parts 6.1 and 6.2 for the client’s ease of reference. Practitioners can give this enclosure to clients involved in parenting or financial proceedings when first instructing them, making it easy for practitioners to comply with the requirements under the rules to fully inform their clients.

The enclosure accompanies the Letter to client regarding duty of disclosure and can be found on the Property Settlement and Children matter plans directly under the Duty of disclosure brochure in the Pre-action procedures folder.

The By Lawyers Family law publication is up to date with all of the recent changes to the family law system after the merger of the two courts into the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

COVID measures are here to stay – All states

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Many temporary COVID measures introduced across Australia during the pandemic are here to stay.

New South Wales and Queensland have now proposed legislation permanently retaining some COVID measures, such as remote witnessing. Victoria have already legislated to retain some COVID measures. The Commonwealth has extended temporary measures for companies.

With other states and territories expected to follow suit, the long-term legal legacy of COVID-19 looks like being significant.

New South Wales

The Electronic Transactions Amendment (Remote Witnessing) Bill 2021 will permanently allow certain documents to be witnessed in real time over an audio-visual link.

Further, for an additional 12 months from the date of assent, the list of people who can witness NSW statutory declarations will be extended to the expanded list of witnesses set out in Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018.

Queensland

The Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 will make permanent some of Queensland’s  temporary COVID measures including:

  • Remote witnessing and electronic signing of affidavits, statutory declarations and some oaths; however electronic signatures on statutory declarations can only be used for a land or water dealing where electronic conveyancing is used.
  • Powers of attorney for corporations, partnerships and unincorporated associations, but not sole traders, can be signed electronically, in counterpart, by split execution and without a witness; however, if a general power of attorney is used for a land or water dealing it must continue to be executed in accordance with the Land Title Act 1994 and Land Act 1994.
  • Advance health directives can be certified as to capacity by nurses, in addition to doctors.
  • Deeds can be made in the form of an electronic document, electronically signed, made in counterpart and by split execution, generally without a witness. The Bill also removes the requirement for deeds to be sealed, requiring the deed to contain a clear statement that it is executed as a deed. However, deeds lodged or deposited in relation to land and water dealings must continue to be executed in accordance with the Land Title Act 1994 and Land Act 1994.
  • Private applications for temporary protection orders in domestic and family violence matters may be filed electronically, with a hearing date allocated and the application served before the application is verified. Verification can occur later, when the magistrate hears the application. The Magistrates Court may hear any part of family and domestic violence proceedings by audio visual link.

South Australia

The Oaths (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2021 commencing on 1 December 2021 amends the Oaths Act 1936 (SA) to:

  • Provide continuity following the expiration of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 and its associated regulations through the Oaths Regulations 2021.
  • Introduce a Code of Practice – Affidavits to be followed by deponents and witnesses in the making of affidavits.
  • Introduce a Code of Practice – Statutory Declarations to be followed by declarants, and witnesses to ensure statutory declarations are taken in accordance with the Oaths Act 1936.
  • Expand the persons before whom a statutory declaration may be made as stated in the new Schedule 1 to the Oaths Act 1936.
  • Include additional offences for those falsely representing themselves as authorised witnesses to a statutory declaration or affidavit.

By Lawyers keeps you up to date

All relevant By Lawyers guides, including the dedicated guide Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues – Some practical information which appears at the top of all By Lawyers matter plans, have been or will be updated to reflect these changes as and when they take effect.

Director identification numbers – FED

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Director identification numbers have been introduced in Australia following the commencement of long-awaited amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Director identification numbers, or Director IDs, are a unique number which attaches to an individual  company director for their life. They retain the director identification number even if they cease to be a director or move from the jurisdiction. It allows directors to be easily identified across multiple companies. It is intended that this identification will assist with compliance and insolvencies.

The 15 digit numbers will start with 036, which is the three-digit country code for Australia under International Standard ISO 3166.

Directors appointed prior to 31 October 2021 must apply for a director identification number between 1 November 2021 and 30 November 2022.

Directors appointed between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 must apply within 28 days of appointment.

Directors appointed after 5 April 2022 must apply prior to being recorded on the ASIC register.

An application for a director identification number is made to Australian Business Registry Services. To make the application directors will need to provide:

  • tax file number;
  • residential address as held by the ATO;
  • two documents to verify identity.

Failure to apply as required, or any misrepresentation as to a director’s number or being the holder of a number, can expose current or prospective company directors to civil and criminal penalties.

The By Lawyers Companies and Joint Ventures guides have been updated accordingly. Commentaries discuss the need to obtain a Director ID. Retainer instructions now prompt for the Director ID.

COVID 19 legal issues

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Dealing with COVID 19 legal issues has been a major challenge for legal practitioners. A great deal of emergency legislation has now been passed in response to the pandemic, both temporary and permanent. While we are beginning to see some of the temporary arrangements introduced by courts, land registries and other authorities ease, there are still many measures in place that continue to affect daily practice.

The By Lawyers publication Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues brings together in one place a collection of up-to-date practical information which is a valuable resource for lawyers. It is available by clicking on the link at the top of the matter plan in every By Lawyers Guide.

The Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues publication continues to be updated and enhanced as the response to the pandemic develops. For instance, the Family Law section of the publication has been recently updated to include information on the updated COVID-19 Hearing Protocol from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) to reflect easing restrictions in the ACT, NSW, and VIC.

All By Lawyers publications are updated to reflect permanent changes. By Lawyers will keep practitioners informed of ongoing changes and provide our trademark practical assistance to guide the profession in these difficult times.

Leases – QLD

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By Lawyers Leases – QLD publication has been reviewed and updated to ensure that the commentary and precedents are in line with current law and practice.

Queensland property lawyers and conveyancers will find helpful enhancements resulting from this review, including:

Expanded commentary on: –

  • Agreements/offers to lease.
  • The application of the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994.
  • Personal property securities considerations when acting for a lessor or lessee.
  • Disclosure statements – for new leases, assignments and renewals.
  • Outgoings.
  • Rent review procedures.
  • Options to renew and the form of renewal.
  • Security for performance.

New commentary on –

  • The applicability of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
  • A lessor’s disclosure obligations in relation to the leasing of land listed on the Contaminated Land Register.
  • The importance of correctly defining the premises to be leased.
  • Obtaining mortgagee consent to a lease.

New precedents including –

  • Lessee waiver notices pursuant to s 22B of the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 – New lease and assignment.
  • Heads of agreement for offer to lease – Concise.

These enhancements to the Leases – QLD guide will assist lawyers acting for either a lessor or lessee.

This review is part of By Lawyers continuous commitment to reviewing and enhancing our publications to ensure our subscribers.

Purchasing off the plan – All states

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To assist practitioners advising clients who are purchasing off the plan, new precedents have been added to the By Lawyers Purchase of Real Property guides in all states.

The two new precedents for practitioners advising potential purchasers are:

  • Initial letter to proposed off the plan purchaser; and
  • Enclosure – Considerations when purchasing off the plan.

The Enclosure is designed to be provided to clients who are considering buying off the plan. It provides plain language information about:

  • What ‘off the plan’ means.
  • The risks of purchasing off the plan.
  • The advantages of purchasing off the plan.

All the pertinent considerations for a client looking at entering into a contract to buy a property off the plan are covered. Importantly, the potential risks are clearly explained, including:

  • Being locked in until the sunset date.
  • Potential for loss if the market deteriorates between the day of sale and the settlement date.
  • Special conditions that operate in the developer’s favour.
  • Possible dissatisfaction with finished product.
  • Changes to the building.
  • Additional legal costs being involved.

Both new precedents can be found in folder A. Getting the matter underway, on each Purchase of Real Property matter plan.

These helpful new precedents were created in response to a request from a By Lawyers subscriber.

Drink driving – QLD

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Amendments to drink driving legislation relating to interlock orders and driver education programs commence in Queensland on 10 September 2021.

Interlock program now applies to more drink driving offences

From 10 September 2021 mandatory interlock orders apply upon conviction for any drink driving offence with a BAC of 0.10 or greater. Previously interlock orders only applied to offences with BAC of 0.15 or more.

An interlock device is a breath testing instrument which is connected to the electrical system of a motor vehicle and prevents the engine being started unless the driver passes a breath test. These devices must be installed, by an approved installer at the driver’s expense, if a court order makes it a requirement of being able to obtain a driving licence.

Education programs for drink drivers

From 10 September 2021 conviction for any offence which attracts a mandatory interlock order renders the driver ineligible to obtain a licence for 5 years from the date of their conviction unless they have completed an approved drink driver education program.

First offenders must complete a brief intervention education program (BIEP). Repeat offenders must complete a repeat offender education program (ROEP). These programs are separate to the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program, which is generally completed prior to the offender being sentenced.

Exemptions from completing the required drink driver education programs are available. Applicants must show that requiring them to do the program would be unreasonable or cause severe hardship. However, applications for exemption cannot be made until the end of the applicable licence disqualification period.

Publication updates

The By Lawyers Magistrates Court (QLD) – Traffic Offences guide has been amended accordingly. See Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program in the commentary for more information. The precedent Letter to client finalising the matter and confirming outcome of plea has been amended to incorporate the new provisions.

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia – FED

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The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) commences operation on 1 September 2021.

The FCFCOA is an amalgamation of the former Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The new court has two divisions:

  • Division 1 is a superior court of record that includes the judges from the former Family Court. It deals with the most complex matters and exercises appellate jurisdiction.
  • Division 2 is a court of record that includes the judges from the former Federal Circuit Court, which is the single point of entry for all family law and child support matters.

There is a common set of forms and rules across the two divisions. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (the Family Law Rules 2021) apply in all family law matters, except in Western Australia where the Family Court Rules 2021 (WA) apply. Western Australia also has its own dedicated portal – the eCourts Portal of Western Australia.

They provide for the practice and procedure in both divisions of the FCFCOA except for a few matters such as transfer from Division 2 to Division 1 as set out in the Family Law Rules 2021.

The new court’s website is available: www.fcfcoa.gov.au.

A practice direction deals with Transitional arrangements.

Division 2 of the new court also has a general federal law jurisdiction, like the former Federal Circuit Court.

All By Lawyers Family law publications – Children, Divorce, Financial Agreements, and Property Settlement – are being updated for the commencement of the new court. This includes a full review of the:

  • commentaries, for the new terminology, procedures and hyperlinks to the new rules;
  • matter plans, with a single Going to court folder reflecting the new process; and
  • precedents, to incorporate all necessary changes.

There is a 90 day grace period for using the old forms in the new court. The new court forms will be added to the By Lawyers matter plans as they become available.

By Lawyers always keep our subscribers up to date!

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