News and Events

The State Debt Recovery Office has been criticised for "cleaning out" the bank accounts of traffic fine defaulters, leaving vulnerable consumers with no money to meet the basic expenses of rent, food and transport.

It was a triumphant night for RLC at the annual NSW Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Program (TAAP) Awards. RLC auspices the Inner Sydney Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (ISTAAS) and this year two RLC tenants’ advocates took home accolades.

In the August issue of the RLC eBulletin, we wrote that the recent increase in application fees to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) followed another increase just six months previous to it, when tenancy matters transitioned to NCAT.

The NSW Ombudsman released a report in August 2014, on the effect of expanded police powers introduced in 2011 to assist police responses to alcohol-fuelled violence, predominantly intended for behaviour in entertainment districts at night.

On 8th September, the NSW Parliament’s Select Committee on Social, Public and Affordable Housing tabled its final report after a wide-reaching inquiry. A number of submissions made by RLC during the inquiry were drawn upon in the final report.

The majority of Sydney Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service’s (WDVCAS) clients are women, however the service is also often required to provide assistance to children or young people in need of legal protection from domestic violence.

The recent full Federal Court of Australia decision in Richardson v Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 82 has provided new insight into determinations made by the court regarding general damages, in the area of sexual harassment.

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) released a research report in September 2014 into the accessibility of modern awards documents.

Legal Aid NSW has released three new financial advice films in Auslan for the deaf and hard of hearing community. These new films are a helpful resource covering fines, loans and credit, and home loan stress.

The RLC Credit & Debt service regularly assists vulnerable clients dependent on Centrelink income, or otherwise experiencing financial hardship.