Cooke & Hutchinson

Red Cross Wills Day Thank You Message

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:19:11 +0000

Dear John and everyone at Cooke and Hutchinson,

THANK YOU!

I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to you and Cooke and Hutchinson for helping us on Wednesday with our Wills day at Redcliffe.

We appreciate that it is a generous donation of time on behalf of your firm.

Although no bequests to Red Cross were pledged, it was a successful day. As well as spreading the word about our services we raised funds and we hope a number of local people will consider leaving a gift in their Will to Red Cross in the future.

Every year Australian Red Cross receives between ten and twelve million from gifts left in Wills and your firm plays a special part in helping that to happen.

Without these generous giftsto Red Cross, so much of Red Cross’s work with vulnerable people would not be possible.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your help with our Wills days once again.

Nola, Australia Red Cross

Jayant Patel Case Continues

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:45:51 +0000

Jayant Patel submitted an application in the High Court of Australia seeking special leave to appeal a decision of the Queensland Court of Appeal.

Mr Patel was convicted on three counts of manslaughter and one of unlawful grievous bodily harm for deciding to operate on a patient whose health was precarious. The patient suffered bleeding that could not be stopped and later died.

Counsel for Mr Patel argued that he did not have a trial according to law because he had been tried under section 288 of the Criminal Code (Qld), which does not include the decision to operate, and he should have been tried under section 282, which does.

Counsel submitted that the trial was a miscarriage of justice because the law was incorrectly put before the jury, and because the jury had heard much prejudicial evidence regarding the surgery, when the competence of the surgery was no longer an issue.

The Crown argued that the words in section 288 should capture the decision to operate, and the concept of surgery is wide and includes the decision. The Crown also argued that the evidence regarding surgery was necessary and relevant to prove causation.

The Court granted the application for leave to appeal based on the interpretation of the Queensland Criminal Code, requested further particulars regarding the miscarriage of justice and referred the application to an expanded court.

Commonwealth Government Rectifies De Facto Property Error

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:43:36 +0000

People going through de facto property and maintenance matters who have orders in the federal family law courts will have the process simplified after the Australian Government rectified an error in the law-making process.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the Bill will correct oversights in 2006 and 2009 where Proclamations were not made to bring into effect changes to the Family Law Act. The Bill will also remove the need for these rare types of proclamations to be made in the future in relation to the Family Law Act.

“This legislation will put people in the same position they would have been if these Proclamations had been made on schedule,” Ms Roxon said.

“I welcome statements by the Opposition and the Greens that they will support this legislation and look forward to its early passage through the Parliament.”

Ms Roxon also encouraged people who have orders which might be affected by the lack of Proclamation to continue to comply with them.

“The legislation will eliminate the need for anyone to go back to court to seek new orders,” Ms Roxon said.

A Proclamation under section 40 of the Family Law Act 1975 has been made setting 11 February 2012 as the date from which the federal family courts could exercise this jurisdiction, ensuring there is no doubt about the validity of orders made after
10 February 2012.

Further information can be found at www.ag.gov.au.

Mission Possible: Inspiring Students to Effect Change

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:42:01 +0000

The University of Queensland’s Law School will build on its research strengths as well as enhance its student experience, says UQ’s new Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney.

Professor Carney is one of Australia’s leading constitutional experts, particularly in the areas of State and Territory constitutional law, parliamentary privilege, the role of parliament, and public sector ethics.

“UQ Law attracts the brightest students so I want to nurture the Law School’s close links with the legal profession, commerce and government, both nationally and internationally, to provide the best graduate outcomes, as well as equip our students with the necessary legal and personal skills to pursue successful and satisfying professional careers,” Professor Carney said.

One-off funding available for crime support services

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:40:44 +0000

Funding of up to $100,000 (GST exclusive) is available through Victim Assist Queensland under the Building Capacity for Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.

This one-off funding is available to non-government, not-for-profit organisations or local governments, to improve services that help victims of crime get their lives back on track.

The program complements other Victim Assist Queensland initiatives such as the Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.

To be eligible, applicants must: be an incorporated non-government, not-for-profit organisation or a local government; and have a focus on delivering services that help victims of crime in Queensland.

Details of how to apply are in the Building Capacity for Victims of Crime Services Funding Guidelines 2012–13. All applications must be received by 4pm Friday, 30 March 2012.

For more information and to request the submission form and guidelines please contact Victim Assist Queensland on 1300 546 587 or email victimslinkup@qld.gov.au

2012 Fraud Week: 19-25 March

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:39:06 +0000

Fraud and scams can strike a business at any time, and Fraud Week served as an opportunity for everyone to review personal and business financial security procedures. An initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT), it also raises awareness on new types of fraud and scams which have recently surfaced.

Slam scams! Press delete, throw it out, shut the door or just hang up was the 2012 theme and highlights the many ways scams are delivered. A phone call, SMS, mobile app, letter, email, fax, or blog – scammers will use any of these means to target victims.

You can protect yourself from scams by following these tips:

1. Don’t respond
Ignore suspicious emails, letters, house visits, phone calls or SMS – press ‘delete’, throw them out, shut the door or just hang up.

2. Watch out for slick tricks
Scammers use sophisticated tricks to fool you such as fake websites, glossy brochures, technical jargon or posing as someone that you know and trust – don’t fall for them!

3. Don’t let scammers push your buttons
Scammers will play on your hopes and dreams to get what they want. Romance scams hurt emotionally as well as financially – protect yourself.

4. Protect your identity
Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers.

If you have spotted a scam, or unfortunately been a victim, you can report it on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ScamWatch website – http://www.scamwatch.gov.au. Information on how to protect your business from scams is available at http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/business-scams.htm.

Assistance measures activated following storms and flooding

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:37:31 +0000

Joint State and Federal Government-funded assistance measures have been activated for the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gympie and Moreton Bay council areas following recent storms and flooding.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements would help the four councils cover the cost of their counter disaster operations.

Assistance for personal hardship will be available for eligible residents in these areas and assistance with the restoration of essential services is available in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas.

Members of the public suffering personal hardship can call the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349.

"The assistance measures that are now activated will help these communities to get back on their feet following this natural disaster," Mr Roberts said.

He praised the efforts of local councils in responding to and cleaning up after the disasters.

Building Boost Grant

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:14:36 +0000

The $10,000 Queensland Government Building Boost Grant has been extended until 30 April 2012. It is available to buy or build a new home in Queensland.

Whether you are buying a new home, buying or building your first home ($17,000 available in this instance) or buying a new investment property you may be eligible to receive the Queensland Government’s Building Boost Grant.

Access http://boost.treasury.qld.gov.au to find out if you may be eligible and to learn more about the grant, including how to apply.

Introduction of Personal Property Securities Register

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:12:14 +0000

On 30 January 2012, a national scheme governing security interests over most types of personal property commenced. The new national Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) consolidates security registers previously operated by the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments into a single register.

Broadly, a personal property security interest occurs when a person or company takes an interest in personal property as security for a loan. For example, a bank or money lender will hold a security interest over your car while you are paying off your car loan. The car itself is security for the loan, so if you default on your loan, the lender may repossess your car to recover their costs.

The new national register is operated by the Commonwealth Government’s Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia. The registers previously operated by Queensland which are now included in the national PPSR are:

The Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS), which listed security interest held over vehicles and boats
The Bills of Sale Register, which listed security interests over all other forms of personal property, including manufacturing equipment, cattle and crops of sugar cane
The Register of Cooperative Charges, which included security interests of plant and equipment owned by cooperatives.

All security interests that were held on these three registers were migrated to the new national PPSR. You can search the PPSR online (http://www.ppsr.gov.au) or by calling 1300 007 777.

Watchdog reprieve welcomed

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:07:31 +0000

Systems to protect vulnerable Queenslanders will continue to receive independent monitoring from the Office of the Public Advocate after a government decision not to amalgamate the watchdog agency with one of the agencies it monitors.

Queensland Law Society, Carers Queensland, Queensland Parents for People with a Disability and the Queensland Council of Social Services were among organisations with whom retiring MP and outgoing Attorney-General Paul Lucas consulted last December about the controversial amalgamation plan.

Carers Queensland spokesman Brendan Horne told The Courier-Mail he was pleased Mr Lucas had been open to the concerns of the community sector as well as advocacy organisations. "He saw the arguments were strong and sound, he listened, and he’s acted accordingly," Mr Horne said.

The Office of the Public Advocate was created under chapter 9 of the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 (Qld). Unlike other Australian states, the office is charged solely with providing systems advocacy for adults with a decision making disability. This group includes people with a psychiatric disability, an intellectual disability, an acquired brain injury or some form of dementia.