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...

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...

Recent headlines surrounding John Pesutto’s legal battle highlight critical lessons about defamation in the public sphere. Two key takeaways stand out starkly: avoid labeling someone a “neo-nazi” and refrain from calling them a “liar.” Both accusations carry significant weight and can have severe legal repercussions. The case underscores that even in the heat of political...

For decades, successive Victorian governments have engaged in a massive sell-off of public assets, promising economic efficiency and debt reduction. Yet today, Victoria faces the paradoxical reality of both depleted public ownership and unsustainable debt levels, all while maintaining Australia’s most punitive tax regime. The Privatisation Paradox Since the 1990s, Victoria has led Australia in...

If you hold Victorian real estate through a unit trust and are considering transferring units—perhaps as part of an estate plan, SMSF wind-up, or asset restructure—be warned: you may inadvertently trigger landholder duty under Victoria’s Duties Act 2000. A recent bulletin from the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee (LPLC) and the Oliver Hume case provide timely...

The impending commencement of the fully enacted Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024 on 1 July 2026 casts a long shadow over the Australian legal profession, particularly for those immersed in real estate transactions. While the objective of bolstering our financial system’s resilience against illicit activities is laudable, the practical implications for our...

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....

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...