In today’s digital age, a new threat is emerging that should set off alarm bells for businesses and individuals alike: deepfake invoice scams. With the rise of generative AI tools, fraudsters no longer need advanced design skills to create convincing fake receipts—they can generate them in seconds with just a few clicks. The Growing Threat...
UncategorisedBreaking the Glass Ceiling: Amanda Chambers Appointed as First Female Chief Judge of County Court
28 May 2025
Amanda Chambers has made history as the first female Chief Judge of the County Court of Victoria, bringing over 19 years of judicial experience to this prestigious role. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in Victoria’s legal landscape. Judge Chambers’ leadership in judicial reform is particularly evident in her tenure as President of the Children’s...
UncategorisedLegal Heavyweights and Unprecedented Strategy: Deeming’s Team Pursues Pesutto’s Backers
28 May 2025
In an unprecedented legal manoeuvre that has sent shockwaves through Victoria’s political landscape, Moira Deeming’s formidable legal team is pursuing a novel strategy to recover $2.3 million in legal costs from those who funded John Pesutto’s failed defamation defense. Leading this charge is a powerhouse duo of Australian legal talent: Patrick George, principal at boutique...
ConveyancingUncategorisedBeware Hidden Traps in Contracts: The Rise of Unscrupulous Conveyancing Practices
27 May 2025
Purchasing a property is one of the most important legal and financial commitments you will make. But not all contracts are what they seem. At Hayton Kosky, we are increasingly concerned by the rise of non-standard, buyer-unfriendly contracts being issued by some conveyancing practitioners. These contracts often appear to follow the standard form developed by...
After nearly 50 years, Penhalluriack’s hardware store in Caulfield (Pens), a true Melbourne institution, is on the market. This isn’t just any hardware store; it’s the legacy of Frank Penhalluriack, the man who single-handedly brought seven-day trading to Victoria, forever changing the retail landscape. Penhalluriack’s journey began close to five decades ago when a trip...
ConveyancingPropertyNavigating Victoria’s Public Open Space Levy: A Framework for Developers
25 May 2025
Victoria’s urban landscape is continually evolving, driven by population growth and the imperative for sustainable development. A cornerstone of this growth management is the Public Open Space (POS) levy, a critical mechanism ensuring that new developments contribute to the provision of essential community infrastructure. For property developers, understanding the legislative intricacies of this levy is...
PropertyHow Developers Legally Avoid Paying Victoria’s Public Open Space Levy and Land Tax
25 May 2025
In Victoria, a segment of property developers—particularly those engaged in build-to-rent (BTR) schemes—are taking advantage of legal frameworks to sidestep certain state and local tax obligations. While not inherently unlawful, these strategies highlight gaps in legislation that municipalities and the State Revenue Office (SRO) are now scrutinizing. Avoiding the Public Open Space Levy Ordinarily, developers...
ConveyancingPropertyVictoria’s Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF): Current Situation
24 May 2025
Overview The Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) is a new property tax that will replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) in Victoria starting July 1, 2025. The Victorian Parliament passed the legislation last week, and it represents a significant increase in property taxes for Victorian landowners. Background and Implementation The ESVF replaces...
UncategorisedNew AML/CTF Regime for Law Firms in Victoria from 1 July 2026: What You Need to Know
23 May 2025
Starting 1 July 2026, law firms in Victoria, along with other professionals such as accountants, conveyancers, and real estate agents, will be brought into the scope of Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime. This marks a significant shift as legal services become subject to obligations under AUSTRAC’s regulatory framework. Key Obligations Lawyers providing...
UncategorisedUniversal Energy Bill Relief in Victoria: Wasteful, Ill-Targeted, and Legally Indefensible
22 May 2025
The Victorian Government’s decision to apply universal $300 electricity bill relief to every residential account — regardless of income, wealth, or need — is not just economically reckless, it’s legally unjustifiable. In a state facing record debt exceeding $180 billion, doling out public money to well-off households with rooftop solar and negligible bills amounts to...
