Grant & Simpson Lawyers in Rockhampton, Queensland | Labour & employment law solicitor

Grant & Simpson Lawyers

Locality: Rockhampton, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4999 2000

Address: 226 Quay Street 4700 Rockhampton, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.grantsimpson.com.au/

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• Estate planning solicitor
• Divorce & Family Lawyer
• Labour & employment law solicitor

25.01.2022 BULLYING AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE Bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace are topical issues as they continue to be a problem. In a Federal Court case of Richardson v Oracle Corporation Australia, the Judge noted on hearing an appeal of an award of compensation for sexual harassment where an award of $18,000.00 was made that such an award was out of step with the general standards prevailing in the community regarding the monetary value of the loss and... damage of the kind the female complainant had sustained. The Court increased the award of damages to $100,000.00. In the Federal Court this year in a case of Hill v Hughes, another sexual harassment case, a female complainant was awarded $170,000.00 by way of compensation for loss and damage she suffered because of the sexual harassment by her employer. Further, in a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision of Green v The State of Queensland another sexual harassment case of a male employee, compensation was awarded in favour of the complainant in the sum of $156,000.00. Do you have concerns regarding bullying or sexual harassment in the workplace as an employer or as an employee? We are here to help. Call our office on 4999 2000 and speak to one of our professional staff or email us on [email protected]

20.01.2022 The Partners and Staff at Grant & Simpson Lawyers advise our office is now closed for the Easter weekend and will re-open Tuesday 6 April 2021. We wish all our clients, family and friends a happy and safe Easter. Travel safely and obey all the COVID restrictions.

11.01.2022 The Partners and Staff at Grant & Simpson Lawyers are proud of their ongoing commitment to the CQ community. Pictured is Allan Grant, the Managing Partner at Grant & Simpson, presenting Shaun Jones from The Caves Rural Fire Service with a cheque for $1,000.00. We thank all the Rural Fire services for the amazing work they do.

10.01.2022 Estate Planning Gifts To Foreign Persons Changes have been made to foreign investment regulations from 1 January 2021 which may affect your estate planning. These changes provide that where a foreign person (as defined in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth)) inherits real estate and/or other classes of assets from a deceased person, then the beneficiary will need to comply with the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) requirements before the gift can be ...transferred. There is no guarantee that approval from FIRB will be obtained in favour of the beneficiary. If approval from FIRB is not obtained then the beneficiary and the executor will need to look at other options. For example:- (a) the sale of the asset; (b) the beneficiary declining to accept the gift; and (c) some other arrangement agreed to by the executors and the beneficiaries. Furthermore, as part of the FIRB approval process, fees are payable to the Commonwealth Government by the beneficiary. If there is a possibility that all or part of your estate may be passing to a foreign person, then your Will needs to be reviewed. Additionally, an Australian citizen may still be regarded as a foreign person under certain circumstances within the FIRB regime. If you feel there is a chance one or more of your beneficiaries could be affected, it is recommended that legal advice be obtained, including to determine whether potential beneficiaries may fall within the definition of foreign person. These and other issues (such as other taxation and stamp duty consequences) need to be considered in the overall estate plan. These latest changes to the law highlight the importance of regularly reviewing estate planning documents (including your Will) and obtaining professional legal advice. Please call our office on 4999 2000 to make an appointment with John Siganto if you require any further information.

08.01.2022 A very Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums out there. Make this Sunday a special day for all of them - and remember those who don't have their Mums with them. Keep safe everyone!

08.01.2022 New Forms for Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives From 30 November 2020, new forms came into place for Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives prepared in Queensland. If you made your Enduring Power of Attorney and/or Advance Health Directive prior to 30 November 2020 on the old forms, then the documents are still valid provided they have been correctly completed, signed and witnessed before that date.... If you have had an Enduring Power of Attorney or an Advance Health Directive prepared before 30 November 2020, but you have not yet signed, then you must have the document prepared again, in the new format. The new format has a number of changes including the following:- 1. there is now an allowance for you to detail your views and preferences (for example whether you wish to remain in your home for as long as you can); 2. the persons who cannot act as an Attorney now also includes a service provider for a residential service where you live, someone who has been a paid carer for you in the previous three years or a health care provider (such as your doctor or dentist); and 3. you can also nominate persons who you wish the appointed attorney to notify about information and decisions being made on your behalf, in the event the Enduring Power of Attorney is activated. The legislation has also been amended to update underlying principles so they are consistent with the human rights of persons with impaired incapacity. For example, there is an additional focus on the fundamental freedoms of the individual, an obligation on attorneys to perform their duties in a way that safeguards the rights of the individual and the process to be followed when making decisions. If you have any questions it is best to seek professional legal advice. Please call our office on 4999 2000 to make an appointment with John Siganto if you require any further information.

07.01.2022 The Partners at Grant & Simpson wish to advise that their office located at 226 Quay Street, Rockhampton will be closed this Thursday and Friday, the 11th and 1...2th June 2020. Initially closed for the annual Rockhampton Show Holiday, which has now been rescheduled due to Covid19, arrangements could not be cancelled at such short notice. Our doors will re-open on Monday 15 June 2020 at 8.30am. In the meantime, if you have an emergency, please call our After Hours Service on 4999 2000.

04.01.2022 Grant & Simpson Lawyers wish to advise their office located at 226 Quay Street, Rockhampton will be closed for the afternoon of Friday 18 December 2020 from 12.00pm. We will be back on deck Monday morning at 8.30am. Please feel free to leave a message on 4999 2000 or email us at [email protected] and we will attend to your matter promptly on Monday morning.

02.01.2022 Review Your Superannuation Death Benefit Nomination Many people do not realise that they will not be able to dispose of their superannuation death benefit pursuant to their will. Unless a binding death benefit nomination is in place, the trustee of the superannuation fund has a discretion as to whom the benefit can be paid. A superannuation death benefit can be paid as follows:-... 1. to a dependent of the deceased person (being the spouse, child or a person with whom the deceased person had an interdependency relationship); or 2. to the estate (through the legal personal representative), to then be distributed in accordance with the will. If the death benefit is paid to the estate, then for tax purposes it will be treated as having been paid to the beneficiary. However it is the estate that pays the tax, not the beneficiary, so executors need to be careful to ensure that all tax liabilities are paid. The advantage of making a binding nomination in favour of a dependent, is that the death benefit paid does not pass through the estate and in Queensland it would not susceptible to a challenge to the Will through a family provision application. In light of these matters it is important to give consideration, not only to your will, but also to where your superannuation death benefit may end up once you pass away. Please call our office on 4999 2000 to make an appointment with John Siganto if you require any further information.

01.01.2022 Grant & Simpson Lawyers is proud to sponsor Nerimbera Football Club