
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: COVID-19 resources for the horticulture industry
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has released a must-read guide for all businesses that operate in the horticulture industry.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has released a must-read guide for all businesses that operate in the horticulture industry.

On Saturday 28 March 2020, the Fair Work Commission made its second determination in an effort to preserve the ongoing viability of businesses and jobs in response to the challenges being experienced by employers and employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The states and territories have passed separate legislation restricting domestic interstate travel, which has significant implications for some employers.

The purpose of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) is to protect Queensland’s environment and prevent environmental harm. The duties and obligations imposed by the EP Act are significant, and liability for non-compliance attaches to a broad range of potential offenders.

Cooper Grace Ward has promoted Leanne O’Neill to the role of partner with the firm. The newly promoted partner has worked at the Brisbane-based law firm since 2013 and rapidly proved to be a valuable asset to the practice.

The recent arrests of vegan activists in Melbourne, Milmerran and Yangan and the subsequent legislative changes highlight the need for farmers and landowners to implement biosecurity management plans on their properties to prevent a biosecurity event and a breach of the biosecurity obligations that exist across Australia.

All Queenslanders have an obligation to manage biosecurity risks under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Act).

At a state level, owners and users of all land in Queensland have a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO) under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld).

From 1 July 2018, the rate of tax a company pays, and the rate at which it can frank its dividends, depends upon whether the company is a ‘base rate entity’ or not.

In a split judgment 2:1, the Court of Appeal has confirmed the Planning and Environment Court’s decision that a local government’s planning scheme can make clearing Category X vegetation assessable development. This is despite the Planning Regulation 2017 providing that clearing Category X vegetation is ‘exempt clearing work’.

From 1 July 2018, the rate of tax a company pays, and the rate at which it can frank its dividends, depends upon whether the company is a ‘base rate entity’.

From 1 July 2018, the rules for determining the rate of tax paid by a company changed fundamentally. Now, the company tax rate depends upon whether the company is a ‘base rate entity’.