Maurice Blackburn Lawyers’ Post

"You always think you're going to have time to react. That you'll have time to do something. But you don't." That's what Matt says when he looks back on the road accident that changed his life. Matt and Dinyse are a young couple living with their pets in Beaudesert, Queensland. Before their accident, they loved rock climbing, hiking, and travelling throughout Australia. Matt and Dinyse both worked physical jobs that they loved. Matt was a mechanic by trade, and Dinyse worked in a warehouse and as a horse trainer. They were SES volunteers in their local community. But a road accident changed all that. It meant that Matt and Dinyse needed to find a new way forward. Read their story here: https://brnw.ch/21wKSdS #WorkInjury #RoadSafety Omar Sarac

This week is Queensland Road Safety Week 2024. 🚗💛 In 2023, there were 276 fatalities on Queensland’s roads, with many more injured. This year's theme, "Drive Safe, Arrive Safe," emphasises the importance of road safety for all road users. Whether you are a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or passenger, your actions can significantly impact the safety of Queensland's roads. "Despite fines for dangerous driving, people continue to engage in these behaviours, causing accidents and injuries to innocent members of the public. The increase in accidents resulting in fatalities is shocking and causes immense damage to family members, friends, and first responders," says MB's Tamara Splatt. Read more ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21wM4xd #QueenslandRoadSafetyWeek2024 #RoadSafety

From this week, Australia's gig workers have new rights. Gig workers have been some of the most exploited workers in the modern economy. Many of them work for some of the world's biggest multinational tech corporations. They're doing work many of us depend on, like transport and food delivery. And for too long, they've been deprived of important minimum standards. Their employers have taken advantage of loopholes to worsen job insecurity and make it harder for gig workers to organise. Now, legislation has closed those loopholes. From this week, gig workers can have baseline, minimum standards set by the Fair Work Commission. In some cases, the Commission can set penalty rates and rules around how payments work for gig workers. And gig workers have new protections to help them get active in unions, to become union delegates, and to fight unfair deactivations. So these workers now have better protections and stronger rights. This can help stop gig work platforms from engaging in a race to the bottom over workers rights and conditions. So it's not just a win for gig workers. It's a win for all of us.

Did you know that more than 90% of tradies experienced work-related injuries or pain in the last year? What's more, 90% of those injuries were caused or worsened by their work. August is Tradies National Health Month. It's a fantastic initiative spearheaded by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. It's a time to think about the importance of promoting wellbeing and safety for our tradespeople. What kinds of injuries are the most common? Which are the most dangerous? What preventative measures are most important, and what should you do if you're injured at work? MB's Ryan Pollard has all the info here: ➡ https://lnkd.in/gJHWv88q #TradiesNationalHealthMonth #TradiesHealth

Community legal centres are one of the cornerstones of our society. They help hundreds of thousands of people each year with a range of legal problems, as well as responding to and preventing domestic and family violence. Without crucial funding, these centres are turning away more and more people who need their support most. You can help - to support the campaign to save community legal centres visit: https://lnkd.in/gVeMq5C9 #SaveCommunityLegalCentres

This week is #BrainInjuryAwarenessWeek, an annual event to raise awareness of brain injury and its impact. 🧠 Brain injuries can have a life-changing impact, and they can occur due to various causes, such as accidents, illness, and surgical complications. This year, we're sharing Lani's story, a powerful reminder of the challenges and triumphs experienced by individuals and families. Lani was only five years old when she underwent surgery. After experiencing complications, she suffered a serious brain injury. "All of Lani’s connections have been impacted by her injuries, and she and her family’s life changed forever." - MB's Kirsten Van Der Wal Read Lani’s inspiring journey here. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gX7RHBtt Synapse

This is life at MB! From the perspective of a first-time parent, an exceptional junior lawyer, and our legendary public affairs team: here's a look inside our amazing workplace. Whether it’s the chance to learn from each other, our compassionate approach, or our daily mission to turn problems into solutions, we take immense pride in our work. We see ourselves as courageous and brave, and we’re humble about it too. (This is a humble brag). We gathered on a chilly winter morning to chat about everything MB – what a committed crew! 💪❄️ Check out our careers page on our website: https://lnkd.in/gP78J7Nv Our current vacant positions: https://lnkd.in/d_UKReQ

Sexual harassment cases often result in settlements that include a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). But momentum for change is growing. Earlier this week, the Victorian government announced a consultation on changing the law to limit the use of NDAs in sexual harassment settlements. Jessica Dawson-Field of Maurice Blackburn spoke about the need for change, alongside the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, and Wil Stracke of Victorian Trades Hall Council.

As long-standing advocates for survivors of abuse in WA and across Australia, we welcome the final report of the WA Parliamentary inquiry released this week. We were proud to have MB Abuse Law experts John Rule and Hugo Seymour present submissions at the Inquiry, calling for reform that would help survivors access justice sooner and avoid them being further traumatised by drawn-out legal proceedings. Some of the key recommendations to highlight: - Permanent stays: several recommendations aim to reduce the misuse of permanent stays that currently lead to unfair outcomes for survivors. - Trial dates: recommendations to provide more certainty for survivors by enabling trial dates set as quickly as possible in child abuse cases - Removal of term “historical” when referring to child abuse. This issue is not in the past, and many of the people involved - perpetrators, those who covered up abuse, and survivors - are still alive. - Freedom of Information: we welcome recommendations that would enable prioritisation of FOI requests related to child abuse matters. Our clients live with serious mental health issues directly connected to the trauma they have suffered through abuse, and these recommendations will provide immediate help to access justice and resolve claims sooner. Read our media release: https://lnkd.in/gKfZjdSK #WA #lawreform #abuselaw

#Listen 📻 City of Melbourne Council has voted not to continue the trial for eScooters after concerns about pedestrian and driver safety. MB Principal Alison Barrett spoke to 6PR Perth about the kinds of injuries we've seen, the lesser-known regulations of eScooters, who carries the risk: https://lnkd.in/gq-E7fpv #eScooters #RoadInjury