George

The Federal Government’s Help to Buy Scheme, which formally opened for applications in 2025, represents one of the most significant shared-equity housing initiatives introduced in Australia in recent decades. The scheme is designed to address one of the most persistent barriers to home ownership for low- and middle-income earners: the difficulty of saving a sufficient …

Federal Help to Buy Scheme Australia: How the Shared Equity Scheme Works Read More »

Many people are surprised to learn that pensions can count as property in a divorce, even when they are already being distributed, which can feel counterintuitive. Pensions often serve as both a current income stream and a future financial resource, and this dual nature can make it challenging to understand how they fit into property …

Pensions and Divorce Property Settlement: When a Pension Counts as Property Read More »

Facts This was a parenting appeal about two children. The parents had been in years of Court proceedings marked by ongoing parenting decision-making disputes. The appeal challenged parts of the final parenting orders made on 2 May 2025. After separation, both parents started new relationships. Both children needed extra support, including counselling and learning help. …

Parenting Decision-Making Disputes: When The Court Chooses One Parent To Decide Read More »

Workplace Bullying in Australia Recovery from workplace bullying is possible, but it begins with recognising and calling out bullying behaviour for what it is. Workplace bullying is a critical issue affecting thousands of employees in Australia, impacting on productivity, mental health, and career progression. Understanding where and how it manifests in everyday workplace culture is …

Workplace Bullying Australia: When Bad Management Becomes Unlawful Read More »

Wheatley v Peek [2025] NSWCA 265 (10 December 2025) Earlier this year the NSW Supreme Court held that a Will made on an iPhone Notes app was not valid. The ruling raised issues about informal wills in NSW and whether a phone document can operate as a final Will. The NSW Court of Appeal has …

Informal Wills in NSW: Can I Make a Will on My Phone? Read More »

Proprietary estoppel in NSW succession disputes has become an increasing point of tension in modern estate planning. The recent case of Bushell v George [2025] NSWSC 1347 showed that high-value rural assets can trigger complex legal issues. Late changes to inheritance expectations created dispute among three siblings. The matter raised questions about estoppel, early inheritance …

Proprietary Estoppel in NSW Succession Disputes: Lessons from Bushell v George 2025 Read More »

Many businesses assume that if disaster strikes, their commercial insurance policy will cover the loss. This is usually true for more obvious incidents such as fire damage, inventory theft, or public liability claims. The real issue often lies in policy definitions in commercial insurance. This is particularly relevant to hidden infrastructure such as pipes, wires, …

Why Policy Definitions in Commercial Insurance Matter More Than You Think Read More »

If you are preparing an Application for Consent Orders, it is important to understand the new Consent Orders Word document requirement commencing on 31 October 2025. From this date, the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia will no longer accept filings that include only a signed PDF of the proposed orders. You must …

Consent Orders Word Document Requirement: New Filing Rule from 31 October 2025 Read More »

The recent decision of the NSW Supreme Court in Kumar v Frankies Cranes Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 1264 serves as a timely reminder for businesses in the building and construction sector that informal agreements and casual email exchanges may not be enough to secure payment under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act …

Kumar v Frankies Cranes: A Costly Lesson in SOPA Compliance Read More »

Parkas v Shankar [2025] NSWSC 1140 provides a recent and clear summary of the principles governing co-ownership accounting and equitable allowances between co-owners, particularly regarding claims for improvements or repairs that enhance a property’s value. The decision explores differing judicial views on whether a co-owner may receive an allowance for time personally spent carrying out …

Beyond 50/50: How Parkas v Shankar [2025] NSWSC 1140 Reshapes Co-Ownership Accounting Read More »