VY Newsletter

JUNE 2025 UPDATE Building industry does the heavy lifting Australia’s economy is slowing, but it’s the country’s builders who are doing the heavy lifting. This month's national account figures showed that GDP growth slowed to just 0.2 per cent in the March 2025 quarter, the weakest result in almost a…

MAY 2025 UPDATE Vincent Young turns 20 It's not every day you get to celebrate a milestone birthday. On election night we celebrated two at once - Vincent Young’s 20th and my 60th birthday party. When I reflect on my journey and that of Vincent Young, it has not been…

APRIL UPDATE Global markets and Australia's future The recent implementation of tariffs by America is an attempt to protect its industries from foreign competition. While the primary aim is to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce trade deficits in America, the global nature of commodity markets means that these tariffs have…

MARCH UPDATE Dealing with the ATO In 1939, Winston Churchill famously described Russia as “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”. These words can be equally applied to the Australian Tax Office. Emerging from its COVID era forbearances the ATO has announced that it is to be more…

FEBRUARY UPDATE Vincent Young's 20th year This is Vincent Young’s 20th year in business. An insight into survivability of any Australian businesses is as follows: Around 77% survive past their first year; About 50% make it past five years; and I guess Roughly 10% make it past twenty years. There…

DECEMBER UPDATE   Trends in contract drafting - pandemics and ports It is interesting to meet people in other fields and discuss their perspectives on the economy and the world. I recently met a renowned virologist and discussed the risk of another pandemic. This topic interests me as I have…

NOVEMBER UPDATE Increased vigilance required in uncertain times 'Uncertainty' and talk of 'crisis' pervades the air. Inflation remains stubbornly high meaning high interest rates and increased costs of living. Elections in the US and an upcoming Australian federal election stymie reforms and makes it difficult for governments to respond. Geopolitical…

OCTOBER UPDATE The Pendulum of Power As a young lawyer in 1996, following Keating’s recession, we had to have, I witnessed the swing in negotiation power from the developer to the contractor. At that time, the money flow had dried up, and the cashed-up contractors offered to finance, design and…

SEPTEMBER UPDATE VY's annual Q&A Dinner - Construction in Crisis Vincent Young recently hosted its inaugural dinner, focusing on the pressing crisis facing the construction industry. The evening brought together a distinguished group of developers, builders, subcontractors, financiers, and insolvency practitioners, each offering valuable perspectives on the sector's challenges. The…