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Month: April 2026

Sexual Harassment & Sex or Gender-Based Harassment Queensland – Employer Obligation

by Harris Black

Sexual harassment and sex or gender-based harassment are treated in Queensland as work health and safety risks, not just HR issues. Employers have a positive obligation to prevent harm, not simply respond after something goes wrong.

In Practice

Employers must take active steps to identify, assess and manage the risk of sexual harassment and sex or gender-based harassment in their workplaces, in the same way they manage other safety risks.

This obligation applies even if no incident has occurred.

Prevention Plan – mandatory from 1 March 2025

Queensland employers are required to have a written Sexual Harassment Prevention Plan where there is a risk of harassment (which applies to most workplaces).

The plan must:

  • Identify the specific harassment risks in the business
  • Set out practical controls to eliminate or minimise those risks
  • Consider worker and workplace factors (e.g. power imbalance, remote work, FIFO, client-facing roles, alcohol-related work)
  • Describe how workers were consulted
  • Clearly explain how reports will be handled
  • Be easy to access and understand

Ongoing responsibilities

Employers must:

  • Regularly review and update control measures
  • Revisit the prevention plan after any report or material change
  • Make sure workers know about the plan and how to access it
  • Provide appropriate training and leadership oversight

Directors and senior management have a personal duty to ensure these systems are in place and working.

Failure to comply can result in WHS penalties, regulatory intervention, personal exposure for officers, and reputational damage.

Having a policy on paper is not enough. Employers must be able to show that risks were considered and managed.

Harris Black Business Leaders Forum – May 2026

by Harris Black

We’re excited to invite you to our next HB Business Leaders Forum on Thursday, 21 May 2026 focusing on “Strategy, Coaching & Implementation for High-Impact Leaders“. 

In a year where market volatility, AI and faster decision cycles are reshaping how organisations compete, leaders need stronger strategy, better coaching capability, and sharper execution.

This interactive session will help you step back from day-to-day noise and identify practical shifts that strengthen your leadership impact in 2026. Through peer discussion, insights, and practical frameworks, you’ll focus on three critical leadership capabilities: strategy, coaching, and implementation.

Work with peers and your experienced facilitator to:

  • Strengthen your strategic thinking by identifying key market shifts and the strategic pathways that matter most for the next 12 months.
  • Explore the habits of high-performing leaders as decision speed, AI and shorter strategy cycles reshape leadership expectations.
  • Coach better decisions across your organisation using practical frameworks and emerging AI-enabled tools.
  • Identify friction points slowing implementation and explore ways to improve execution across teams and workflows. Work through real strategy and implementation challenges with peers and leave with practical ideas to accelerate performance.

Event Details:

Book Your Ticket

The $1,000 Standard Tax Deduction

by Harris Black

From 1 July 2026, the Government plans to introduce a $1,000 standard tax deduction for work‑related expenses.  It is designed to make tax time simpler for millions of Australians.

  • Eligible taxpayers will be able to claim a flat $1,000 deduction for work‑related expenses
  • No receipts are required if this option is used
  • It applies to the 2026–27 financial year

If your actual work‑related expenses exceed $1,000, you cannot claim both.  You must choose:

  • The $1,000 flat deduction, or
  • Your actual expenses with receipts

The $1,000 standard deduction only covers work‑related expenses. You can still separately claim:

  • Charitable donations
  • Union and professional fees
  • Investment‑related deductions

This is not yet law and still needs to be passed by parliament.

Brentnalls Conference – Perth | March 2026

by Harris Black

The Brentnalls Affiliation Conference held in Perth in March 2026 brought together advisers from across the network for three days of connection, insight and practical learning. Hosted across multiple venues and breakout groups, the conference focused on strengthening advisory capability, sharing practice updates, and preparing firms for the year ahead.

Proceedings commenced on Wednesday with specialist group sessions, including Woman in Brentnalls with guest speaker Bethan Winn, alongside dedicated Business Advisory Group (BAG) and Tax Group meetings. The Tax Group sessions delivered deep technical insights into the year ahead in tax, key legislative developments, and real-world problem-solving across restructuring, related-party transactions, and international tax matters. The BAG meeting encouraged collaboration through panel discussions, firm presentations and exploration of AI resources in advisory.

Thursday’s agenda shifted to whole‑group updates, featuring executive insights, practice updates from across the country, and a strong focus on the role of the trusted advisor. Attendees heard from leaders across states, reinforcing collaboration, shared challenges, and opportunities within the Brentnalls affiliation.

The conference concluded on Friday with a practical, forward‑focused agenda. Highlights included presentation skills training, an automation demonstration, breakout sessions, and accountability reporting by each firm. Group updates across BAG, AI, WIB, Tax and Next Gen reinforced the network’s commitment to innovation, capability building and future leadership. Networking continued into the evenings, with shared dinners providing informal opportunities to strengthen relationships.

Overall, the Perth 2026 conference reinforced the strength of the Brentnalls affiliation — a connected, forward‑thinking network committed to excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Meet the Staff – MK

by Harris Black

We’re pleased to introduce MK, who brings a thoughtful and well-rounded perspective to the team. A fan of home cooking, MK’s go-to meal is a classic homemade bolognese, and she particularly enjoys cooking fresh salmon pasta with paprika, avocado and spinach.

Outside of work, MK enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with family. With an appreciation for music and culture, her dream dinner guests include David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Prince and her Nan — a combination that promises both great conversation and a memorable soundtrack.

MK has an impressive cultural background, speaking Māori and English along with several other languages, and could easily deliver a 40-minute presentation on Māori culture. She also has a unique family connection to the creative world, being related to director Taika Waititi.

With a strong appreciation for culture, creativity and connection, MK brings a calm and considered presence to the team. We’re delighted to have her on board.

How can we help you?

Today’s financial environment demands a regular review of strategy and a focus on execution.

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