The ATO has given businesses an extension of time to pay their employees under the JobKeeper program. Enrolments for the initial JobKeeper periods have been extended from 30 April 2020 until 31 May 2020. For the first two fortnights (30 March – 12 April, 13 April – 26 April), ATO will accept the minimum $1,500 [...]
ASIC has written to all general insurers about its expectations in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. ASIC says it expects entities to treat customers fairly and avoid adding further financial harm or burden to consumers. The four-page letter asks insurers to be flexible and details ways insurers could do that. Read the general insurers’ letter [...]
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is aware of a significant increase in Australians being targeted with Covid-19 themed scams, fraud attempts and deceptive email schemes. Read more here.
To enable teams to better work from home during the coronavirus outbreak, Microsoft is offering a free six-month Office 365 E1 trial, including Microsoft Teams. To learn what's available with an E1 licence, read more here – Office 365 E1 – and here – support remote workers with Teams. UAC Business Service member Gratex, which [...]
Need to know more about accessing JobKeeper, superannuation, and tax deductions for working from home? UAC financial partner WLM Financial has provided a series of articles to assist you. JobKeeper: The key facts The JobKeeper payment is a $130 billion scheme to support businesses significantly affected by the coronavirus crisis. The scheme provides for payments [...]
As the world continues to deal with the economic and operational challenges from the global Covid-19 pandemic, cyber criminals are seeking to exploit new work practices and capitalise on uncertainty. Clyde & Co has warned organisations to be conscious of data, privacy and business risks associated with Covid-19. The firm’s Australian cyber team has prepared [...]
ACCC has granted interim authorisation to Suncorp, Allianz, QBE and other insurers and brokers to enable them to coordinate and implement relief measures for SME business policyholders suffering hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ACCC did not conduct a public consultation process about the request for interim authorisation because of the urgent need for relief [...]
Small businesses struggling to cope with the Covid-19 crisis can access assistance through the My Business Health web portal. Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says the portal has been re-designed to walk small business owners and sole traders through practical steps to keep their businesses afloat. “Small businesses are under enormous [...]
On 9 April 2020, the Fair Work Act was amended to support implementation and operation of the JobKeeper scheme in Australian workplaces. The changes to the Act will now allow an employer who qualifies for JobKeeper payments to direct employees not to work, work reduced hours or work on different days – but only if the [...]
Parliament has passed the JobKeeper package that will enable businesses significantly impacted by the CV-19 outbreak to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. Click here for more information from the Federal Treasury. Other support information is available here: The ATO has advice on support, including boosting cash flow, instant asset [...]