Non-compete clauses and worker restraints under review   A new issues paper from Treasury’s Competition Review questions whether non-competes and other restraints are limiting job opportunities and movement.   A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey found that 46.9% of businesses surveyed used some kind of restraint clause, including for workers in non-executive roles. The survey also found 20.8% of businesses use non-compete clauses for at least some of their staff and 68.2% for

The assault on professional services   The ATO has signalled that it is willing to pursue professional services firms who divert profits to avoid tax.   Two new cases before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal demonstrate how serious the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is about making sure professional services firms – lawyers, accountants, architects, medical practices, engineers, architects etc., – are appropriately taxed.   In both cases, the ATO pursued the practices using Part IVA. Part

Budget 2024-25   The 2024-25 Federal Budget is the third for the Albanese Government and consistent with previous years, the primary themes are expected to be the cost of living and the economic shift to net zero.   According to election guru Antony Green, the window for the next election starts on Saturday, 3 August 2024, “the first possible date for an election if writs are issued on 1 July. The election window will stay