Underquoting, the illegal practice of deliberately listing a property for less than its estimated value to attract more potential buyers, remains a systemic issue in the Australian property market, with Victorian agents employing a range of unethical tricks to circumvent the law. These practices contravene the Victorian Estate Agents Act 1980 and related professional conduct...
In an era of rising costs, the path to energy independence lies in combining smart technology with clean energy. Imagine a home where your biggest energy expenses—electricity, hot water, and transport—are powered by the sun. This dream is achievable by integrating a home solar system, a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and a modern electric...
October 27, 2025 It’s the kind of news that sends a chill down the spine of every Australian with a superannuation account. Yesterday, Netwealth, an ASX-listed financial giant with a market cap of nearly $8 billion, formally asked the federal government to use public funds to bail out its members to the tune of $101...
Introduction During his tenure as the 43rd Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett spearheaded a series of radical reforms that reshaped the state’s political and economic landscape. Among the most significant of these were the sweeping amalgamations of local councils and the introduction of a cap on council rate increases. At the time, these measures were...
It’s a familiar narrative in the legal world: lawyers approach new technology with a level of caution that borders on suspicion. They circle innovation, armed with a long list of questions and a healthy dose of skepticism. But a fascinating pattern emerges time and again. Once convinced of its value, lawyers don’t just adopt technology—they...
Walk from the High Court of Australia towards the National Library, and you’ll encounter something unique in the Australian landscape: a monument not to a soldier or a politician, but to a court judgment. Etched in steel are the powerful words of Sir Gerard Brennan, from a decision that forever changed the nation: “The common...
It’s a scenario that might seem tempting. A handshake deal was finalised years ago, but the formal paperwork was never completed. A crucial contract was signed and executed, but the original has been lost to time. The urge to simply create a new document and date it in the past—to “fix” the problem quickly—can be...
The Silence of a Home Full of Memories The silence in a large family home, once filled with the vibrant chaos of a growing family, can become a heavy, palpable presence. For many adult children, this silence is the soundtrack to a slow-burning anxiety: a parent, now in their 80s or 90s, living alone in...
In our connected world, it’s increasingly common for Victorians to have a footprint that spans the globe. You might own a holiday apartment on the Gold Coast and another in Queenstown, an investment portfolio in New York, or shares in a London-based company. This global reach is exciting, but it adds a layer of complexity...
From banking to booking holidays, our lives have moved online. So, why should estate planning be stuck in the past? The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many aspects of our lives into the digital realm, and the traditionally paper-heavy world of wills and estates was no exception. This shift has sparked a nationwide conversation about electronic wills,...
