The 2017 Budget included proposals intended to reduce pressure on housing affordability Two of them use the superannuation system to do so the First Home Super Saver Scheme and the Reducing Barriers to Downsizing proposal Partner Michelle Levy examines the schemes in more detail ...

A new planning regime for Queensland has come into effect today with the commencement of the Planning Act 2016. ...

As of 1 September 2017 merchants will be prohibited from charging excessive payment surcharges for certain payment methods Under the new rules businesses can only pass on to customers what it costs them to process a payment The Allens Competition team have put together a brief overview of the ...

In the fourth of our series analysing the Finkel Review we look at Dr Finkels assessment of the critical data needs in the National Electricity Market NEM including a key recommendation that by the end of 2018 the proposed Energy Security Board in collaboration with the Australian Energy Regulator ...

While much of the commentary on the Finkel Review has been around a clean energy target a number of very important but very technical issues relating to system security were also canvassed The Review recognised that system security characteristics should be valued and regulated in addition to the ...

In Touch looks at what's been happening in Competition this month and what it means for your business ...

Vietnam continues to be an attractive destination for foreign investors As well as raising capital from equity investors both Vietnamese and foreign-invested enterprises continue to require foreign debt capital in the form of loans from overseas banks to establish and grow their businesses here ...

The first half of 2017 has been one of the most active buy out periods for private equity in Australia since the financial crisis With fundraising conditions remaining positive plenty of committed capital needing to be invested and the announcement of a number of large and high profile transactions ...

ASIC continues its mission to enhance the regulation of Australias equity markets with its recent publication of Consultation Paper 290 on managing conflicts of interest when dealing with sell-side research and corporate advisory The proposed amendments will primarily target investment banks and ...

ASIC often looks to overseas regulators for inspiration So when a particularly influential regulator publishes a comprehensive report about a large segment of its regulated population including possible new areas for regulation it can pay to take note because it may be a guide to the future ...