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...
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...
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,...
Stamp duty is a cost most property buyers anticipate, but what if your transaction does not attract duty At Hayton Kosky Lawyers, we frequently assist clients in securing legitimate exemptions and concessions under Victoria’s Duties Act 2000 This article provides a clear breakdown of property transfers that may be exempt from stamp duty or eligible...
