The long awaited Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Bill 2019 was passed by Federal parliament on 5 February and received Royal Assent on 17 February 2020.  The relevant provisions of the Phoenixing Bill commence as follows:

• Sections 1-4 on the day of Royal Assent on 17 February 2020;
• Schedules 1 and 2 on 18 February 2020; and
• Schedules 3 and 4 on 1 April 2020.

The reforms will give ASIC, liquidators and the ATO new powers to help deter and disrupt illegal phoenix activities, and prosecute culpable directors and associated persons.

Australia’s Franchising industry has been far from immune to the already significant impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  In fact, franchises in the food and retail sector are likely to be amongst some of the hardest hit by the economic impact. 

On Thursday 2 April, Holman Webb Workplace Relations Special Counsel Alicia Mataere and ReadyTech's Daniel Wyner Thursday presented a live webinar on both the options and obligations for businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Both businesses and individuals are already feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even during what appears to be its early stages. Over the last month Holman Webb has received numerous enquiries from businesses of all sizes, who are looking to review their contracts to see how they may exit (or how the other party may exit), if doing so becomes necessary.

On 25 March, the NSW Parliament passed the COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 (‘the Act’) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Act implements emergency measures and addressees various matters concerning Retail Trading, Environmental Planning and Local Government. The Act also makes important amendments with respect to landlords and tenants.

To say that we are currently living in unprecedented times is an understatement. Each day we wake to distressing news of increased fatalities, spread of the COVID-19 virus and global attempts to flatten the curve.

Following on from Holman Webb's recent article COVID-19 and the Workplace, the past week has seen a number of unprecedented and immediate changes in the Workplace Relations space, all of which have the potential to affect both your business and employees.

To say that we are currently living in unprecedented times is an understatement. Each day we wake to distressing news of increased fatalities, spread of the COVID-19 virus and global attempts to flatten the curve.

In response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, the Federal Government has introduced temporary changes to rules affecting insolvency and bankruptcy processes.