Latest Story
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UncategorisedThe future of gift cards: Australian Treasury consultation
editor | February 15, 2012
Our domestic gift card market is still in its infancy, yet $1.5 billion worth of gift cards were purchased by Australians in the 2009-2010 financial year alone. Consumers love gift cards for their ease and convenience while retailers love them because they increase sales, reduce the return of unwanted gifts and build store loyalty.However, concerns about gift card terms and conditions have become prominent recently with the insolvency of some high profile Australian retailers.
The Australian Treasury has released an issues paper "Gift cards in the Australian market" and is seeking public comment on whether consumer detriment is caused by the purchase and use of gift cards.
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UncategorisedAustralia in the Asian Century: White Paper
editor | February 15, 2012
You are invited to lodge a submission to the "Australia in the Asian Century" White Paper which considers the likely strategic and economic changes in the Asian region and the opportunities and challenges facing Australia as a result.The paper identifies broad issues and questions to encourage debate about how Asia’s rise is changing the world in which we live.
Submissions close 26 February 2012.
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Feedback vital for strata regulatory reform
The Hon Anthony Roberts | February 14, 2012As the Strata Laws online consultation enters its final weeks, NSW Minister for Fair Trading the Hon Anthony Roberts, calls for feedback on what parts of the current legislation are working well.
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Rethinking strata reform
strataman | February 14, 2012With the rapidly changing landscape of housing in New South Wales, Strataman says it is time to rethink our entire approach to strata. ”While commerce around the world is at a ‘change point’, Strata is no different.”
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Union calls for greater say from tenants on strata laws
Chris Martin | February 12, 2012Strata laws affect everyone in the scheme, even renters. Chris Martin from the Tenants’ Union of NSW says it is about time tenants’ rights were taken into account by strata regulations.
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Recommendations for strata law reform
Clover Moore | February 10, 2012To ensure apartment living remains an attractive choice in the future, the law needs to keep pace with changes to apartment living and the needs and expectations of owners and residents. Clover Moore shares her thoughts on Strata Law reform.
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Importance of creating reasonable by-laws
Cathy Sherry | February 9, 2012Strata and community title legislation gives owners an extraordinary power not given to any other owners of property: the power to write by-laws for their neighbours, regulating not only what they do on commonly-owned property, but what they do in their own home. Cathy Sherry, University of New South Wales Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, explains the importance of capping the number of by-laws.
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Will the boat come in for privacy law reform in 2012?
Malcolm Crompton | February 9, 2012Throughout 2011 we saw some promise for better, updated privacy laws in many parts of the world, with changes afoot in the EU, the USA and Australia. While in the end things were still ‘promising’, 2012 looks set for some real progress, according to Malcolm Crompton.
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Homelessness requires focus and commitment
Nicole Lawder | February 8, 2012Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show that almost 60% of people seeking shelter at specialist support services were turned away last year. Nicole Lawder says finding solutions for Australia's homeless requires government and community focus.
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Citizen empowerment through social media
Peter Fritz | February 6, 2012TCG Group managing Director Peter Fritz reviewed citizen empowerment, social media and the use of internet interaction in policy making at last week's Herzliya Conference in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The genie left the bottle around 1450-1455, with Guttenburg’s practical application of printing using moveable type. Bibles first, then self-improvement manuals, and then newspapers.
By 1900, there were 70 different newspaper titles published each day in Paris alone. Then TV. It could be claimed that TV transmissions of Dallas into East Germany had a role in collapse of the Berlin Wall.
Now there are over 1.5 billion people worldwide, linked into social media of one form or another. The hunger for access and influence has not changed. The only thing that has changed is reach.
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Temporary residents need permanent political rights
Andrew Norton | February 6, 2012As the number of temporary residents in Australia increases the question of their rights grows in importance. The recent New South Wales government move to stop non-citizens from donating money to political parties, has Andrew Norton questioning why we need such a law.
Over the last 15 years, Australia has acquired a large population of temporary but long-term migrants. As of September 2011, it included about 360,000 international students and 310,000 others, mostly on various work visas. A new temporary residence work right for former international students will add to the total in coming years. On an annual basis, long-term but temporary arrivals significantly outnumber migrants with permanent residence rights.
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Unlocking land for urban renewal
Stephen Albin | February 3, 2012The current strata scheme legislation in NSW is the most significant hurdle to the urban renewal of our major population centres, and Stephen Albin writes that meaningful reform is needed.
Sydney is a city under immense population pressure. In the next 24 years alone, existing urban areas will need to accommodate at least 539,000 new homes, according to the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036. Strata reform is essential to allow urban renewal and the supply of more homes that are safe, affordable, environmentally-sound, and appealing to live in.
