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July 6, 2022 · Mingqiang

Will the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Change Abortion Rights for Women in Australia?

In June, a seismic event took place in the American judicial system: the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and with that, abortion rights became a thing of the past in the United States. The news triggered nationwide outrage, with people taking to the streets holding signs such as "Protect Roe v. Wade", "We Have the Right to Choose", "Women's Lives Are Lives", and "Abortion Rights Are Health Rights", protesting the Supreme Court's decision.

June 30, 2022 · Mingqiang

Can You Get PR Early If You Suffer Family Violence While Your Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

Australia has long held an unwavering zero-tolerance stance on family violence. The Department of Home Affairs website describes family violence this way: "In Australia, family violence is unacceptable under any circumstances — family violence is a crime." What should you do if you suffer family violence while your partner visa is being processed? Will reporting the violence affect your visa?

June 29, 2022 · Mingqiang

What to Do If You Experience Stalking, Intimidation, Cyber Stalking, or Cyber Bullying in NSW

Personal safety is one of the most important aspects of life. If you experience an incident that threatens your personal safety, you should not hesitate to use the law as a means of protecting yourself and asserting your rights. Today we take a look at the laws of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, regarding stalking and intimidation.

June 28, 2022 · Mingqiang

Major NSW Property Market Reform: First Home Buyers Can Pay an Annual Property Tax! Should You Choose Property Tax or Stamp Duty?

Buying a home is an important step for many people preparing to settle in Australia. Recently, with the release of the NSW state budget, a major property market announcement has caught widespread attention. Last Tuesday (21 June), the New South Wales Government introduced the First Home Buyer Choice property market reform targeted at first home buyers. Eligible first home buyers will no longer be required to pay stamp duty as a lump sum, and can instead choose to pay an annual property tax.

June 24, 2022 · Mingqiang

Landlord vs Tenant: Common Rental Disputes in Australia and How Responsibility for Repairs and Maintenance Is Divided

Among disputes arising from commercial leases in Australia, disagreements over responsibility for repairs and maintenance of the premises are one of the most common causes. In many cases, both the landlord and the tenant believe that the other party should be responsible, and if not handled properly, the dispute can easily escalate. Today, NS Legal would like to discuss common rental repair disputes and how to address them.

June 23, 2022 · Mingqiang

The lease hasn’t expired and the landlord says they’re raising the rent — “accept it or I’ll sell the house and kick you out”. Is this lawful?

We have recently received questions from some clients who have been notified by their landlord of a rent increase while still within the fixed term of the lease. Some landlords have even "threatened" that if the tenant doesn't accept, they will sell the property — is this lawful?

June 22, 2022 · Mingqiang

[FIRB] Essential Knowledge for International Students, 485/491 Visa Holders, and Foreign Investors (Non-PR/Non-Citizens) Buying Property in Australia!

FIRB stands for Foreign Investment Review Board, a body established under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) ("FATA") that reports to the Treasurer. FATA requires that certain investments in Australian businesses, entities, or land be reviewed by FIRB beforehand. Its main purpose is for the government to monitor foreign investment and ensure such investments benefit Australia. Restricting purely foreign investors from acquiring existing property is intended to prevent speculative buying that would drive housing prices up unreasonably.

June 17, 2022 · Mingqiang

Hitting or Assaulting Someone at Random? The Consequences in Australia Can Be Very Serious

A recent incident at a barbecue restaurant in which people were beaten has drawn strong public condemnation. The reality is that hitting or assaulting someone can happen anywhere. When living overseas, it is extremely important to know which assault-type behaviours can breach the local criminal law. You may even have been subjected to some form of assault yourself without realising that, in Australia, such conduct actually constitutes a crime. Today we will briefly look at some of the laws that may be relevant to the barbecue-shop case, and focus on what offences hitting or assaulting someone in Australia may give rise to, and what serious consequences may follow.

June 16, 2022 · Mingqiang

How to Respond to Workplace Discrimination When Job-Hunting or at Work?

During job-hunting or at work, many people have encountered workplace discrimination. When faced with workplace discrimination, having a conversation with your employer or manager can be a good option. However, when confronted with serious workplace discrimination, we can use the law as a weapon to protect ourselves.

June 15, 2022 · Mingqiang

In Australia, Under What Circumstances Can a Contract Generally Be Terminated?

We often hear of the "spirit of contract". What is the spirit of contract? In essence, the spirit of contract means that both parties to a contract perform their respective obligations in good faith with regard to the matters agreed upon in the oral or written contract. In reality, however, there are many situations in which a party is unable to honour a promise or perform an obligation for one reason or another.

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