News in briefs: Small business takes on Bonds in “hottie” trademark stoush
Hottie has been in business since 2004 A small online lingerie business that claims one of Australia’s biggest underwear brands has breached trademark laws by using the word “hottie” could have a “very...
View ArticleWorker wins $50,000 in compo for being sacked after taking extra time off...
A former employee of a business specialising in the design and fabrication of windows and window frames has been awarded $50,000 by the Fair Work Commission after he was found to have been unfairly...
View ArticleNSW pizza joint stung twice by watchdog in less than a year for underpaying...
A restaurant in a New South Wales ski resort has been forced to reimburse 10 employees more than $3000 and issue a written apology after being caught out by the employer watchdog twice in less than a...
View ArticleFair Work rules in favour of SME that sacked employee for spending company...
The Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of a small skylight manufacturer that dismissed an employee for working on his own business while on company time. Solarbright Country fired Matthew Jones...
View ArticleWatchdog calls out Woolies, Aldi for possible code of conduct breaches amid...
Supermarket giants Woolworths and ALDI have been called out by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for their approach to suppliers under the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. Small...
View ArticleYum cha restaurant fined $23,000 for falsifying records and underpaying workers
A yum cha restaurant in Queensland has copped more than $23,000 in fines after it was caught not providing official employee work records to staff. The Federal Court in Brisbane this week issued...
View ArticleCash Converters dragged to court after gambling addict pensioner claims she...
A disability support pensioner who claims she was offered 63 loans over a six-year period by Cash Converters despite them knowing she had a gambling problem and would struggle to repay is taking the...
View ArticleASIC to monitor father and son financial advisers
A father and son pair of financial advisers will face increased scrutiny to ensure their compliance with financial services law, following a crackdown by the corporate watchdog. Queensland-based Reid...
View ArticleSTA Travel caught in copyright blunder after using customer’s photo without...
STA Travel has taken down an image from an online brochure and its social media channels after a former customer accused the travel group of using an image of her without her knowledge or consent....
View ArticleASIC investigates travel company over claims it deregistered after customers...
The corporate watchdog is investigating a Victorian-based travel agency amid claims its directors intentionally deregistered the business in the midst of legal disputes with former customers. The...
View ArticleAdelaide nightclub accused of kicking out a patron for not drinking alcohol:...
An Adelaide man has lodged a formal complaint with South Australia’s liquor and gambling commissioner after a nightclub in the city’s central business district allegedly kicked him out because he was...
View ArticleGreen light: Canberra is Uber cool with ride-sharing
Canberra has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to formally legalise ride-sharing app Uber before its launch next month. It will be the first state or territory to put in place regulations for...
View ArticleWhistle blowers: Bob Katter and Colin Barnett accuse major airlines of “price...
Australia’s major airlines have come under fire for “price gouging” during football finals season, with North Queensland federal MP Bob Katter and Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett...
View ArticleFair Work offers sobering advice to sacked welder who showed up to work the...
The Fair Work Commission has given the nod of approval to the Kimberley Ports Authority after it sacked a former employee for turning up to work with alcohol in his system the day after Australia...
View ArticleCafe owner ordered to pay three workers back $40,000 after Fair Work...
The owner of two cafes in Sydney has paid back former workers more than $40,000 after an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman found the business had been paying them as little as $5 an hour....
View ArticleWarning issued: Corporate watchdog removes New Zealand director from eight...
The corporate watchdog has issued a warning to Australian companies about dealing with a company director who has been convicted and imprisoned in the US on banking fraud offences. Yesterday the...
View ArticleEmployee awarded reduced unfair dismissal payout after sending offensive texts
The South Australian Industrial Relations Commission has awarded a reduced unfair dismissal payout to a librarian who sent “damaging and derogatory” text messages about his employer. In the decision...
View ArticleAustralian employers offering “black jobs” to overseas workers at below legal...
Nearly four in five foreign language advertisements offering Australian jobs to overseas workers are doing so at below legal wages, according to an investigation by Fairfax and Monash University....
View ArticleUnfair contracts laws poised to affect more franchises
Unfair contracts legislation to be applied to business to business contracts will have a greater impact on the franchise sector if suggested investment thresholds are adopted in the final legislation....
View ArticleEggs act standards: Free range egg producers call for urgent reform and clear...
The competition watchdog has released further information about the labelling of free range eggs in a bid to give producers a better understanding of their rights and obligations under the Australian...
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