Victorian property owners are facing an unprecedented land tax onslaught, and alarm bells are ringing across the state. From “mum and dad” investors to small business owners and farmers, the message from the Allan Government’s new Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, is clear: brace yourselves for higher tax bills, and don’t expect much sympathy from Spring Street....
UncategorisedMelbourne Retail Strip Centres (within 10km): 10-Year Trends & Current State Introduction
16 May 2025
This report examines ground-floor retail strip shopping centres within ~10km of Melbourne’s CBD that are anchored by major supermarkets (excluding enclosed malls). It covers seven key aspects: (1) vacancy rates (current and 10-year trend), (2) rental trends over the decade, (3) strengths and weaknesses of specific strips (Chapel Street, Glenferrie Road, Bridge Road, Sydney Road,...
Victorian sandblaster Angie Romas is the latest casualty of the state’s ballooning land-tax regime. For 22 years he has run his 1.6-hectare sandblasting and painting yard in Dandenong South, employing a dozen tradespeople and supplying major infrastructure projects. Ten years ago his annual land-tax bill was $8,700; this year it landed at an eye-watering $203,600...
UncategorisedGenerative AI in Law: How Top Australian Firms Are Using It—And Why It Matters
15 May 2025
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in legal practice is no longer speculative—it’s happening now. Some of Australia’s most prominent law firms, including Gilbert + Tobin, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, MinterEllison, Herbert Smith Freehills, Clayton Utz and Allens, have openly embraced AI as a strategic tool to enhance the way legal services are delivered. At...
A recent report by The Australian highlights a serious internal breach at prominent law firm Slater & Gordon, now the subject of litigation in the Victorian Supreme Court. The matter underscores critical vulnerabilities in data security and internal controls within professional services firms. It is alleged that Bridgett Maddox, a former payroll manager with a...
Melbourne’s got a rep for culture, coffee, and sprawling suburbs—but at what cost? From Werribee’s plains to Pakenham’s paddocks, the city’s rapid expansion is consuming the countryside in all directions. New housing estates promise affordable homes and backyards, yet they quietly exact a heavy toll on the environment, strain roads and services, and erase precious...
ConveyancingPropertySelling Your Home in 2025? Why You Now Need an ATO Clearance Certificate
14 May 2025
If you’re planning to sell your residential property in 2025 or beyond, there’s an important new tax requirement you need to be aware of. As of 1 January 2025, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has made it compulsory for all property vendors—regardless of sale price—to provide a clearance certificate to avoid automatic tax withholding at...
ConveyancingPEXA’s Dominance in Australian Property Settlements: A Safe, Secure, and Trusted Choice
13 May 2025
Introduction: A New Era of Property Settlement Buying or selling a home is a big moment, and in Australia, the way these property settlements happen has transformed in the past decade. Today, most property transactions are completed online through a platform called PEXA (Property Exchange Australia). In fact, PEXA handles nearly all electronic property...
Victoria’s rental market has seen a dramatic shake‑up. In 2024 the state recorded its sharpest fall in rental supply on record – roughly 21,000–25,000 fewer rental homes on the market. Industry sources say this ‘landlord exodus’ is linked to recent policy changes. Over 130 tenancy law reforms since 2019 have added new landlord obligations, while...
UncategorisedVictoria’s Land Tax Overhaul: How Property Owners and Businesses Are Feeling the Pinch
10 May 2025
Recent budget measures have upended Victoria’s long-settled land tax regime. Under the government’s “COVID Debt Repayment Plan”, the tax-free threshold was slashed from $300,000 down to $50,000 as of 1 January 2024. In practical terms, many thousands of additional homes and small properties are now being taxed for the first time. As KHQ Lawyers explains,...
