The Law Handbook 2024

iv Contents 5.9 Credit reporting .................................................................................................................................................. 453 5.10 Unauthorised transactions and ePayments Code ............................................................................................. 458 6 Houses, communities and the road . ................................................................................................ 463 6.1 Tenancy.............................................................................................................................................................. 464 6.2 Buying or selling a house ................................................................................................................................... 541 6.3 Building or renovating a house............................................................................................................................ 563 6.4 Neighbour disputes............................................................................................................................................ 575 6.5 Owners corporations ......................................................................................................................................... 593 6.6 Community organisations .................................................................................................................................. 610 6.7 Buying a car ...................................................................................................................................................... 628 6.8 Driving offences ................................................................................................................................................. 647 6.9 Road law for cyclists, skaters and scooter riders. ............................................................................................... 660 7 Consumers, contracts, the internet and copyright........................................................................... 673 7.1 How contract law works .................................................................................................................................... 674 7.2 Consumer protection laws ................................................................................................................................. 688 7.3 Consumer guarantees........................................................................................................................................ 704 7.4 Taking action as a consumer.............................................................................................................................. 715 7.5 The internet and the law .................................................................................................................................... 732 7.6 Copyright............................................................................................................................................................ 752 7.7 Trade marks. ...................................................................................................................................................... 768 8 Disability, mental illness and the law................................................................................................. 777 8.1 Understanding disability and the law................................................................................................................... 778 8.2 Disability: Asserting your rights . ......................................................................................................................... 796 8.3 Disability and criminal justice............................................................................................................................... 803 8.4 Mental illness ..................................................................................................................................................... 818 8.5 Guardianship and medical treatment .................................................................................................................. 851 8.6 Understanding powers of attorney...................................................................................................................... 860 9 Health, wills and other legal issues affecting older people.............................................................. 867 9.1 Health and the law.............................................................................................................................................. 868 9.2 Legal issues affecting older people .................................................................................................................... 880 9.3 Wills.................................................................................................................................................................... 896 9.4 Estates .............................................................................................................................................................. 904 9.5 Funerals ............................................................................................................................................................. 917 10 Accidents, insurance and compensation.......................................................................................... 925 10.1 Negligence and injury........................................................................................................................................ 926 10.2 Transport accident injuries ............................................................................................................................... 934 10.3 Work injuries..................................................................................................................................................... 939 10.4 Insurance.......................................................................................................................................................... 952 10.5 Motor vehicle accidents and insurance ............................................................................................................ 964 10.6 Assistance for victims of crime.......................................................................................................................... 971 10.7 Compensation for some legal costs ................................................................................................................. 980 11 Rights, activism and fair treatment at work ..................................................................................... 983 11.1 Discrimination and human rights....................................................................................................................... 984 11.2 Defamation and your rights............................................................................................................................. 1008 11.3 Environment and planning law........................................................................................................................ 1015 11.4 Community activism ...................................................................................................................................... 1045 11.5 Employment contracts, awards and agreements ........................................................................................... 1053 11.6 Protection for your rights at work ................................................................................................................... 1066 11.7 Occupational health and safety....................................................................................................................... 1075