Triumphs, Trusts, and Troubling Trends

May has been a fast-paced month filled with significant achievements and pressing discussions in the legal field. This month, I was a guest speaker talking about property trusts, receiving recognition for my efforts in academic teaching and new academic appointments; there's much to celebrate. At the same time, I want to raise awareness of legal issues that impact our society, such as issues with current privacy laws, gambling regulations, and the protection of children from illicit material online.

Seminar on Buying Property in a Trust

This month, I was invited by Belinda Botzolis to talk about the legalities of owning property in trust structures in Australia. Belinda is a seasoned property valuer and strategist who put together a fantastic panel consisting of myself, Tony van de Kerkhof and Belinda Raso . The seminar aimed to demystify the legal complexities surrounding property trusts and provide attendees with practical insights into their benefits and potential pitfalls. This seminar covered everything from the 2024 residential property market outlook, interest rates, adding value to your property, investment strategies, tax depreciation, commercial properties and leases, understanding trust structures, CGT and land taxes, conveyancing, wills, taxing trusts, understanding banks and their lending rules, debt siloing and other lending strategies.

Property trusts offer a robust mechanism for asset protection and estate planning. By holding property in a trust, individuals can ensure that their assets are managed according to their wishes, often with tax advantages and enhanced privacy. But did you know, there are some advantages from a lending side too? The seminar covered key topics such as the different types of trusts, legal requirements, and the strategic considerations necessary for setting up a property trust.

Winning the L&T Award at UTS for Student Engagement

I'm thrilled to share that both myself and Jeff Crabtree have been awarded the prestigious Vice Chancellor's L&T Award for Student Engagement from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This award recognises excellence in the field of music business, and it is an immense honour to be acknowledged for our contributions to Music Business and Professional Practice.

Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that we have both put into our careers and our commitment to higher education. It definitely reinforces my passion for music and business and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in both my professional and academic endeavours.

Congratulations to all my other colleagues who won awards:

Appointed as Lecturer to Teach Land Law at UNSW

In another exciting development, I have been appointed as a Lecturer to teach Land Law at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This new role allows me to share my expertise and passion for property law with the next generation of legal professionals.

Teaching Land Law involves exploring the fundamental principles that govern property rights and transactions. It is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that requires a deep understanding of both historical contexts and contemporary issues. I look forward to engaging with students and fostering their understanding and appreciation of this critical area of law, an area that I'm extremely passionate about.

Current Concerns: Privacy Laws, Gambling Laws, and Protecting Children Online

While celebrating these achievements, it is important to address some pressing legal issues that are currently in the Australian headlines.

Privacy Laws: With the increasing digitalisation of personal data, privacy laws have never been more important. There have been a number of recent cyber security and data breaches that are not only costing Australian businesses but have a greater impact on the victims of those data breaches, the Australian public. Recent discussions have focused on how to balance the need for data security with the rights of individuals to privacy. I strongly believe that Australia needs some urgent reforms around the protection of personal data, placing greater emphasis on businesses (regardless of how much they turnover) to do more than take proactive steps when a data breach has occurred and actually invest in the digital infrastructure before collecting the data. In addition to this, Australia needs to update their legal frameworks so they are aligned with world standards to protect personal information from misuse, which is essential in our digital age.

Gambling Laws: The regulation of gambling activities remains a contentious issue, particularly concerning the impact on vulnerable populations. There is a growing need to revisit and strengthen gambling laws to prevent exploitation and addiction, particularly with exposing young children, adolescents and young adults to gambling products through advertising on streaming platforms and even in inflight entertainment systems.

Protecting Children from Illicit Material Online: One of the most pressing concerns in the media has been the exposure of children to illicit material online. The internet, while a valuable educational resource, can also be a dangerous place for young minds. Strengthening laws and regulations to protect children from harmful content, alongside improving parental controls and educational initiatives, is paramount. I also believe governments should make the providers of over-18 websites responsible for preventing children from accessing such websites.

If you are interested in learning more about owning property in structures, please reach out at [email protected]

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