All publications relating to ‘COVID-19’
The Workplace Vaccine Mandate Myth Buster Case
In the recent Fair Work Commission decision of Eileen Owens v I‑Med Radiology Ltd [2022] FWC 1823, an interlocutory judgment considering whether an unfair dismissal application had been filed within the required 21 days, Deputy President Asbury surveyed recent cases dealing with mandatory workplace COVID-19 vaccination and very helpfully set out principles…
The Omicron Workplace Safety Dilemma
The Omicron variant has, in a matter of weeks, transformed the COVID-19 situation in the eastern states of Australia. In New South Wales and Victoria cases routinely exceed 20,000 per day, a figure that seemed inconceivable last year. Even though the variant is generally regarded by experts to be milder than its…
Covid-19 Vaccinations for children – What happens if you and the other parent cannot agree?
As NSW hits the 70% vaccination mark and we get closer to returning to the life we knew before the outbreak of COVID-19, one particular issue continues to rear its head in parenting disputes. As it presently stands, the Australian Government has “strongly encouraged” everyone aged 12 years and older to get…
Remedial Works in strata schemes – were they nearly forgotten?
We are all aware of the push by the NSW Government to ‘restore consumer confidence’ in the NSW Construction Industry and the need to tackle the issue of serious defects being experienced by many unit owners throughout NSW. Whilst the majority of building and design practitioners out there are slowly adapting…
Mandatory Workplace Vaccination: Some Myths
With SPC putting its head above the parapet by mandating COVID-19 vaccination for its workforce, and the National Cabinet Statement on 6 August, the topic of mandatory workplace vaccination has never generated such interest, analysis or debate. In discussion and reporting on the issue there are some regularly recurring myths. It is…
NSW Construction Industry Shut Down – Partial re-opening as of 31 July 2021
On Wednesday 28 July 2021, the NSW Premier took steps to re-open certain construction sites in parts of Greater Sydney following the earlier construction industry shut down orders which came into effect on 17 July 2021. Amendments have been made by the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Amendment…
Mandatory Workplace Vaccination: Reflections on Recent Developments
With the current troubling Covid-19 cluster in NSW, and a deep concern about the relatively low rates of vaccination of staff in some industries which deal with the sick and the vulnerable, most notably aged care, the issue of mandatory workplace vaccination has gone from being an interesting theoretical consideration to…
COVID-19 | Further COVID-19 Tenancy Update
On 24 September 2020, we published a COVID-19 Tenancy Update regarding the extension of the Retail and other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation (Regulation) until 31 December 2020. This article can be located here. On 16 December 2020, the NSW Government has announced the Regulation will be extended again, this time until…
Our most popular articles published during 2020
We are almost at the end of 2020, and with the end of a year comes the opportunity to reflect on our most popular articles published during the year: 1. COVID-19 Tenancy Update by Mary Digiglio & Tony D’Agostino | Property, Planning & Projects | 24 September 2020 2. COVID-19 | Redundancy payments during the…
Compulsory Vaccinations for Employees: The Legal Position
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the race to create a safe, effective vaccine for the virus, the issue of vaccination is firmly on the agenda. For instance, the CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce, has recently caused controversy by suggesting that passengers on Qantas international flights might need to…