Roussos Legal Advisory in Darwin, Northern Territory | Lawyer & law firm

Roussos Legal Advisory

Locality: Darwin, Northern Territory

Phone: +61 8 8981 8783

Address: Suite 5, no. 9 Swan Crescent 0820 Darwin, NT, Australia

Website: http://www.roussoslegaladvisory.com

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24.01.2022 Recently, the US government approved the Pfizer vaccine to be distributed. Dr Albert Bourla, Chief Executive of Pfizer in the United States is a Greek from Thessaloniki of Jewish parents who survived the holocaust. Here is a story of someone who has achieved great success. https://greece.greekreporter.com//a-greek-to-save-the-wor/

24.01.2022 In December last year, the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia (presided by Acting Chief Justice Southwood) admitted 14 applicants as legal practitioners of the Supreme Court, including Michael Halkitis and Bill Esteves. Michael worked with Roussos Legal Advisory during the latter part of his undergraduate studies in Law and in completing his Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Bill is the Director of NT WorkSafe and an experienced Executive and lawyer in oth...er jurisdictions and now the Northern Territory. RLA congratulates Michael and Bill and wishes them success.

22.01.2022 "Dear Sirs" ... Dear what?? People are often stuck in their ways and it is surprising to see current use of outdated ways. As this article notes about lawyer conduct, "courtesy and civility are fundamental to the practice of the law, and essential to what we as solicitors do." That said, what does the Queensland Law Society author think of this salutation? Use something accurate and more appropriate. "Solicitors have an ethical duty to be courteous in all their dealings ...in legal practice and this includes communication with opponents, colleagues and the community in general. This extends to ensuring that salutations to other members of the profession are accurate and appropriate. This means that a default to ‘dear sirs’ can transgress ethical boundaries, given the likelihood that any given firm these days will have solicitors of different genders as both partners and employees." See more

21.01.2022 The size of business and government fraud in Australia is staggering. We were reminded of this recently in this news item. "Little did anyone know that one inconspicuous referral would result in one of the largest cases of public sector fraud in Australia's history." Frequently, it is something small and innocuous that uncovers everything. From one report, there has been "over $1.2 billion in reported fraud against the Commonwealth from 201014 stemming from 391,831 incidents. The actual cost of fraud, however, is likely to be much greater as this figure does not include undetected, unquantified or unreported incidents." The above underscores the need for strong governance, probity and audit in corporations public and private and for appropriate funding of investigating bodies such as the various state anti-corruption commissions.

17.01.2022 Here are some images of the NT Safety Symposium 2020 held on Wednesday, 25 November 2020. The Program Speakers were all very interesting and engaging. The Symposium was overall of high educational content. Thank you to Jeff Weldon and the NT Committee and the Australian Institute of Health & Safety.... Roussos Legal Advisory were very pleased to sponsor the event.

15.01.2022 As in the United States, opioid addiction in Australia is an issue, including in relation to workers compensation and motor accidents schemes

14.01.2022 "We like to think we’re rational human beings . But in reality, we are prone to hundreds of proven biases that cause us to think and act irrationally." For example, why do sometimes people not act even when presented with compelling information about an imminent threat? For example, recently, the NPR "On Point" program discussed responses to crises such as 9/11 - you know something is going to happen, but you do not know when or exactly who or exactly how", you need "all the information you would require to authorise target action" ... but "in light of new information they return to old expertise". People bring with them old biases which they need to "unlearn but rarely do". Something to bear in mind in negotiations and advocacy, among other things!

14.01.2022 Everyone loves take away coffee (tea, chai latte). What happens to the disposable cup? Samuel Roussos and Oliver Bateman (from the Swap Cup initiative) explain in this brief article. The authors advise us very 7 minutes Australians throw away 10,000 disposable cups which contrary to popular belief, will not be recycled. A thin layer of polyethylene composing less than five percent of the entire cup will mean they inevitably contribute to the one billion coffee cups Aus...tralians exile to landfill each year. The authors also bring to our attention "the triangular arrow symbol with a number in the middle that appears on most plastic creates the illusion of the wider recyclability but this "does not mean it can be recycled. The authors offer a solution in the swap cup initiative. https://www.melbournemicrofinance.com/new-blog//10/swap-cup See more

12.01.2022 George Roussos gives an overview of Northern Territory of Australia legislation during 2020. Stay safe and we wish you health, well being and success.

12.01.2022 While most people are feeling positive or hoping for a better year, you may have some justification if you feel concurrently circumspect. With all these new corona cases here and there in Australia (and many more overseas per our key trading partners), as noted from a recent meme, we don’t know whether C19 is a 6m puddle or a 6km puddle we’re in uncharted waters. The vaccine may assist, but we cannot be sure. JobKeeper (a key stimulus measure which started in March last y...ear) is reduced from 4 January (and to be phased out by March 30). There are about 1980 businesses in the NT receiving JobKeeper. The NT News today reported today about half of all businesses are still reliant on the wage subsidy program (NT received nearly $30m in JobKeeper payments in the period September December). Aside of that, around 1.6 million people are receiving JobSeeker (and 340,000, Youth Allowance). Last year, JobSeeker (around $280 per week for a single adult) was increased to, at its peak, approx the poverty line ($457 per week for a single adult). A couple of days ago, ABC reported more than 1 million Australians will have their welfare payments shaved from 1 January. The decrease is from $125 per week to $75 per week and then removed from 31 March. Also, the insolvency measures introduced last year (including the threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings increasing from $2,000 to $20,000, the time to respond to statutory demands going from 21 days to 6 months; and temporary relief for directors from insolvent trading) are now wound back or expire. I am not sure what happens with bank interest deferrals. The Australian Financial Review recently reported that the Reserve Bank of Australia is expecting thousands of extra small-business failures and a rise in household financial stress in the new year when loan repayment deferrals and government income supports end. Having said that, AFR article quoted on economist this will see an environment where viable companies can get back to business without being weighed down by unviable or fraudulent companies who have been camouflaged by safe harbour." Putting it all together, with corona still affecting us and the stimulus petering out, including cut backs to JobKeeper and JobSeeker, we will remain with an uncertain situation for the foreseeable future. However, there are the JobTrainer and JobMaker schemes the Federal government has introduced, along with the new US style chapter 11 insolvency rules for small business and the new funding plans for universities, among other things. Hopefully, combined with increasing confidence, demand and production, there will be increasing job opportunities. As far as we in the NT are concerned, do your best to support local by buying local!

09.01.2022 Many businesses can inadvertently fail to pay employees correctly, sometimes confusing their obligations. This news item today from the Fair Work Ombudsman is a reminder to check workplace relations laws (and carry out an audit (independently would be helpful)). The Federal Government recently announced it is planning (in new proposed legislation) giving the ability to, and funding, the Fair Work Ombudsman to provide advisory opinions (similar to the Australian Taxation Office) to help businesses understand their obligations. https://www.fairwork.gov.au//december-2020/20201223-dsa-eu

08.01.2022 Roussos Legal Advisory is a sponsor of this years Australian Institute of Health and Safety NT Safety Symposium 2020 to be held on 25 November 2020. The theme of this year’s conference will focus on the topic of Workplace Health & Safety Lessons Learned. There will be presentations including from NT Branch Chair, Jeff Weldon, David Clarke CEO AIHS, Associate Professor Dianne Stephens, NT Chief Medical Officer Quarantine Facilities and Bill Esteves, Northern Territory... Work Health and Safety Regulator, NT WorkSafe. We are looking forward to it! https://www.aihs.org.au/events/nsw-safety-symposium-2020-1

04.01.2022 NT WorkSafe (the Northern Territory of Australia Regulator for workplace health and safety) is holding or hosting a number of events in the Northern Territory in October. Here is the link for information: https://worksafe.nt.gov.au///national-safe-work-month-2020

01.01.2022 Professor Mike Wilson was recently appointed Provost and Vice-President of Charles Darwin University (CDU), Darwin, Australia. Prof Wilson has a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He has research interests including in computer-aided engineering, applied mathematics, industrial mathematics and astrophysics. What is a Provost? A Provost is a senior position in a University, usually overseeing the internal affairs of the university.... Vice Chancellor (or President / Chief Executive Officer) of CDU, Professor Simon Maddocks completes his term shortly. RLA congratulates Prof Wilson on his appointment to this important role and farewells Professor Maddocks. Professor Maddocks has been a strong advocate for the University ably guiding the Territory's peak Educational Institute over many years. Thank you Prof Maddocks for your service and may you continue to enjoy health and success.