September 2015 Issue 108

While the ACT has some of the lowest electricity and gas prices in the country, our cool climate means we use a lot of additional energy for winter heating and this can drive up our energy costs. There is a lot you can do to reduce energy consumption in your business without compromising on comfort and convenience whilst helping to...

Replacing a service provider mid-project can cause significant disruption. It can be tempting to try to limit the disruption by simply handing over materials created by your former service provider to your new service provider. After all, you paid your former service provider, so surely there are no issues . Unfortunately, it's generally not that straight forward. To start with,...

Don't leave it to the last minute to find the perfect band or entertainer for your Annual Christmas Party or New Year's Eve Party? Even now they could be already booked by someone else, and maybe even one of your competitors. It is astounding how many people leave this decision to the last minute and it happens every year. Avoid...

In late August, The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) attended the National Reform Summit, and not surprisingly many of the key challenges identified at the Summit were very similar to those challenges expressed by directors in the 2015 Director Sentiment Index. AICD's CEO and Managing Director, John Brogden participated in the summit and stated that the Summit was a...

Consumer protection has long been part of our law, shielding the unwary from sharp practices. Perceptions that such aspects of legal and policy development have by-passed the jungle of the commercial world might be misplaced. In recent times commentators have observed a judicial tendency to imply into contractual relationships an obligation to deal "in good faith". This implication will not...

Following my May column in this publication, in which I started a conversation about the value-add that insolvency practitioners can provide to contested Family Law property proceedings, I have seen an increase in the promotion of certain insolvency 'products' as tools to add or maintain value in such circumstances. Whilst it is true that in the right conditions, an insolvency...

To me, micromanagement is ineffective because one has to spend a lot of time and effort with little gains. This reminded me of my early days as a bookkeeper, when my manager would get us to enter every single information from the invoice to the accounting system (specifically, MYOB). He wanted to convert MYOB into a database where he can...

You're in business for many reasons. Profit must be on that list, if not at number one, as a natural consequence of your greater business purpose. Unless you're a charity or NGO, business without profit isn't a business. Profit comes from many sources - not just revenue, but managing overheads, expenses, input costs, people and products. Profit can be found...

Business planning is very important it's like knowing the directions when you want to go somewhere. A great way to make sure your business stays on track is the Now-Where How process. This process asks three key questions that need to be answered in developing a plan: 1. Now - what is the current situation? 2. Where - what is...

We live in a world of increasingly complex technology where we are more and more connected each day. Our every move is documented online, so why is it that so many people underestimate the power of their LinkedIn profile? CV's are often left forgotten in your bottom drawer until the time comes when you may be considering a move. Treating...

Your spouse, relative or friend has appointed you as their attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney - but what does this mean for you? Here are some questions we are regularly asked by attorneys. What is an Enduring Power of Attorney ("EPA")? An EPA is a legal document in which a person ("principal") appoints another person or persons ("attorney/s")...

This year will see Voices in the Forest celebrate its 5th anniversary as Canberra's leading international music concert. Since 2011, the outdoor gala spectacular has brought many world-renowned opera singers to the amphitheatre of the National Arboretum such as Sumi Jo, Anne Sofie von Otter, Emma Matthews and Inessa Galante. This year's concert promises another magnificent showcase of talent starring...