News and resources

The federal government plans to change the regulations governing charity and not-for-profit organisations. Under the proposed laws, the government will be able to deregister charities if a member or volunteer for the group commits a minor offence while joining a demonstration. (See Unlawful activity – changes to the governance standards for registered charities, The Treasury.) […]

On 30 March 2017, the NSW Motor Accidents Injuries Bill 2017 was passed by parliament. This bill is significant as it replaced the previous compulsory third party motor accidents scheme under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, therefore changing the ways in which injured parties are compensated for motor accidents. Reviewing the processes and legislation that cover you […]

The independence of the judiciary from the political arm of government is a fundamental principle of democracy. If judges and the courts can be directed or pressured to reach certain judgements and sentences by politicians or others in positions of power, then public trust in the rule of law that binds society is badly eroded. […]

A review of the controversial changes to the NSW workers compensation scheme has found it is “dysfunctional”, confusing, riddled with delays and unfair. In the past I have been very critical of changes made in 2012 by the NSW government under the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2012 to the workers compensation scheme that is […]

The parents of a baby girl successfully sued the girl’s grandmother for dropping her, an incident that caused the baby severe head injuries. A son sued his father after he lost the tip of a finger unloading a boat from a trailer when he was operating under his father’s instructions. A girl chasing her girlfriend […]

The outcome of the US presidential election provides a convincing argument for the benefits of compulsory voting. Because voting is not compulsory in America, Donald Trump will be president of the United States, even though just one in four Americans voted for him. Millions of Americans fail to vote in presidential elections Despite the enormous […]

Many people have been saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Curley at the age of 78 this week. Terry was the founder of Stacks in Port Macquarie in the 1980s and a man of huge stature in every sense. Terry went to school at St Joseph’s in Hunter’s Hill, where his athletic prowess […]

Article supplied courtesy of Manning River Times. Local Rotarians and their friends partied at the Centrepoint Arcade on Saturday night, September 17, dancing the night away to the music of Circus Mule. “It was a wonderful success” said committee chair Jane Mackenzie who runs Mansfield on the Manning with husband and chef Neil. “With dinner […]

Article supplied courtesy of Manning River Times. Students across the Manning are busily preparing themselves for this year’s Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular at the Manning Entertainment Centre on October 27. Joining the local talent on stage are special guests ACMF founder Don Spencer, acclaimed musical conductor George Ellis and cellist Rachel Scott. George has […]

We should erect a statue of Herbert Payne out of gratitude for his single great contribution to Australia – but very few of us know who he was, or what he did. Ninety two years ago Herbert Payne was a little known conservative grazier and Nationalist Party Senator from Tasmania. He was a quiet man, […]

Long serving Tamworth lawyer Bob Locke is merging his thriving legal practice with the new Stacks Law Firm at 1 Fitzroy Street. It’s only a short move of two blocks for Mr Locke who moves into the Stacks building with his staff in coming days. “It’s an exciting development for us as Stacks is a […]

Courtesy of Manning River Times 20 March 2015  Forty Rotary District 9650 leaders and their partners congregated in Taree last weekend for training with incoming District Governor Maurie Stack from Taree and his trainer Brian Beesley from Gloucester. Maurie has recently returned from San Diego where he undertook a week of intensive training with 535 […]

One of NSW’s most senior lawyers warns government plans to bring in tougher penalties to combat lethal ‘coward punches’ will not solve the problem. Former president of the NSW Law Society, Maurie Stack, said the notion that bringing in new laws to lock offenders up in jail for longer would stop the unprovoked violent attacks […]

Despite all the technological developments and changes to the law the community based law firm Stacks is well positioned to meet the challenges ahead thanks to the core values set by its founder ago 82 years ago, chairman Maurie Stack OAM said at the firm’s 2013 Summit. Mr Stack said technological changes are impacting on […]

Voting in Australia is compulsory – we can be fined up to $50 for not voting without a valid reason. Some argue it is undemocratic to be forced to vote. In fact, around ten per cent of Australians of voting age aren’t on electoral roles. Maybe out of defiance, six per cent mess up their […]

The NSW government has been forced to consult the community before it tries to get its controversial changes to the green slip scheme through parliament. The Opposition and cross bench MPs have said they would not pass the legislation through the upper house. Over 1000 road accident victims contacted the MPs complaining that the changes […]

Government changes to the Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme is likely to end up with motorists paying even more for green slips when registering a vehicle. The government says its changes will cut the cost of the average annual green slip by $50 to $75. But a close examination of details released by the government […]

COMMENT BY MAURIE STACK OAM, FORMER LAW SOCIETY PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Stacks Law Firm 9 May 2013   Maurie Stack OAM, former president of the NSW Law Society and chairman of Stacks Law Firm, warned changes to the compulsory third party scheme introduced in NSW parliament will have a devastating impact on people injured in […]