In a change to Queensland waste legislation that will have ramifications for the development industry, disposing of ‘clean earth’ at a landfill facility from 1 July 2023 will incur payment of the waste levy at the general rate per tonne.
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.
GST is payable on taxable supplies and taxable importations. In some cases, one transaction can constitute both a taxable supply and a taxable importation.
In a recent appeal, the Full Federal Court has upheld the decision of a single judge of the Federal Court in which an employer was ordered to compensate a truck driver injured when he became involved in a couple’s domestic dispute at a service station.
From 1 July 2019, road freight businesses will have to report payments made to contractors to the ATO. This comes as a result of Federal Parliament passing the Treasury Laws Amendment (Black Economy Taskforce Measures No 2) Act on 15 November 2018.
On 18 October 2018, Parliament passed a suite of changes to the Australian Consumer Law. For transport/warehouse operators, the most significant change means that operators cannot contract out of the guarantee to provide transportation/storage services with ‘due care and skill’ unless the both the consignor and consignee are each operating a business. This change is likely to result in increased claims against transport/warehouse operators under the Australian Consumer Law.
On 23 November 2018, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator registered the Master Industry Code of Practice. The Code was developed by Trucking and Supply Chains Limited, a jointly owned company of the Australian Logistics Council and Australian Trucking Association. The newly approved Code will assist parties in the chain of responsibility to discharge their obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Last year, the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission varied the General Carriers Contract Determination to revise the minimum rates payable to owner drivers and to extend minimum rates obligations to additional geographic areas of New South Wales. Phase two of the Determination takes effect on 1 January 2019 and expands the coverage of the Determination.
The High Court has found an employee of a bonded warehouse operator personally liable for the equivalent of the customs duty that would have been paid on stolen cigarettes. The decision illustrates that liability in respect of dutiable goods is not limited to the warehouse licence holder and may extend to directors, officers and employees of the licence holder.
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2018 was passed earlier today. The amendments will significantly enlarge the investigative and enforcement powers of authorised officers under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The amendments are expected to commence on 1 October 2018, alongside the new ‘primary duty’ and executive ‘due diligence’ obligation.
The new chain of responsibility regime involves three separate pieces of amending legislation. So, what does each piece of legislation do?