Our clients in the education sector will be pleased to hear the State Government recently announce its plans to provide additional funding to attract international students to Western Australia.

The McGowan Government will invest an extra $4.5 million as part of an International Education Action Plan to encourage students from all around the world to make Perth their number one study destination.

The Action Plan hopes to bring international student enrolments to an estimated 88,000 by 2022, significantly increasing jobs and income for the international education sector in WA.

To read the Media Statement in full click here:

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/05/State-Budget-boost-to-secure-more-international-students-to-Perth.aspx

Cove Legal has represented some of Western Australia’s leading educational colleges and training institutes, particularly those with a focus on training international students. As a result of our experience in this sector, we are well placed to assist your educational institution with any legal issues that may arise.

Roger Blow, Principal, Ph: +61 8 6381 0327 or roger@covelegal.com.au

This publication is not intended to provide and does not provide legal advice. You should seek professional legal advice relating to your specific situation(s) before taking any action based upon its contents.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) introduced new law in late 2016 that effected all contracts where small businesses were trading with large companies.

The aim was to protect small businesses (i.e. under 20 people) in their contractual transactions by identifying and disallowing ‘unfair’ contract terms within standard form agreements commonly insisted upon by larger companies.

ACCC has identified that unfair contractual terms will likely include:

Terms that force one party to automatically renew the contract.
Terms that allow one party to vary the terms and conditions of the contract, or increase prices, without the consent of the other party.
Terms that too broadly limit the liability of the large business.
Terms that unreasonably make a small business indemnify a large business.
Terms that unreasonably penalise a party for terminating the contract.

Large businesses are encouraged to review their standard form agreements to ensure they comply with the new standards.

For a small business owner, you should seek legal advice before entering into a contract, particularly where the contract has been prepared by the other party and you have had minimal input into its terms.

No matter what size your business, if you are in doubt as to whether your agreements contain unfair terms, or consider that unfair terms are being enforced against you, speak to the team at Cove Legal on (08) 6381 3026.

This publication is not legal advice. You should seek professional advice before taking any action based on its contents.