Our latest insights

While COVID-19 presented a challenge to companies that few could have anticipated, it also acted as a catalyst. Companies were forced to review legacy structures to allow for more agile decision making, and to test their purpose and role in wider society. This report provides salient insights for Boards in Australia, as despite having a different Code in place that we report against, the key themes resonate with what we’re seeing here – purpose, culture, emerging risk management, stakeholder engagement, board effectiveness, remuneration, ESG, diversity and succession planning. It is also a strong indicator of what companies should be focusing on in the coming year.

Nearly all discretionary trusts are taken to be foreign persons in NSW.

For retailers, the Christmas period has always been make or break.

Appropriate culture, governance systems and remuneration structures are critical to rebuilding trust in financial institutions and ensuring a resilient financial system. APRA, as the prudential regulator, plays a significant role in this through introducing new standards and its oversight regime.

We have released the seventh edition of Dealtracker, our analysis of the Australian M&A and equity markets. Covering transactions during the 18 month period from1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020, we saw a significant decrease in deals in H1 2020 as the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following on from David Thodey’s draft ‘Supporting the Road to Recovery’ report (Draft Report), released on 1 July 2020 (and commented on by us here on 16 July 2020), the NSW Budget handed down 17 November has confirmed the State Government’s proposal to replace stamp duty with a broad based property tax. If implemented, it will comprise the biggest shift in state taxes since World War 2.

It‘s a challenging environment for independent schools in Australia.

The United States national election is over, and while we await ratification of the results and inauguration of the new President, focus must now turn to the likely tax policies of the Administration of President Elect Joe Biden.

The Queensland Parliament has passed legislation expanding the application of mandatory Project Bank Accounts (PBA’s) and renaming them to Project Trust Accounts (PTA’s).

Don’t just think iron ore. Australia is truly resource rich – from hydrogen through to lithium and nickel for energy storage, and Rare Earth minerals for computers, smartphones and the aerospace industry.

There is no doubt about it – Australia’s energy future will be one of increasing renewable capabilities.

The first bank in Australia, Bank of New South Wales, was established more than 200 years ago in 1817.