News

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) is ready to help SMEs emerging from hibernation and keen to make the most of easing Covid-19 restrictions. ASBFEO’s My Business Health web portal has useful information for small business owners ready to re-open or ramp up their operations. It’s a [...]

As the 2019-20 financial year closes, UAC accountant and business service member WLM Financial has provided useful information about tax and superannuation changes that take effect on July 1. Read more here. It is also warning that ATO is on the lookout for businesses that may have made adjustments to [...]

Want to know what tax relief measures are available in your state or territory for Covid-19 pandemic support? Sensis, the platforms and marketing services company that owns the Yellow Pages and the White Pages, has produced a useful guide that breaks down what relief is available in each jurisdiction. Here’s [...]

Business service member Finity has summarised personal lines insurers’ Covid-19 responses so far in a new article. It has particularly focused on the largest classes of business, motor and home, and included a deep dive into landlords’ cover. Author Marcello Negro considers a key question for insurers – how their [...]

With thanks to member Emergence Insurance, UAC recommends the following strategies to assist in maintaining cyber security while your staff are working from home. The cyber risks of flexible work arrangements could include malware infection, unauthorised access, data security, and insecure devices used by staff. It’s important that businesses and [...]

Regulators have shifted their priorities to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. That means delays to reforms and legislative changes to general insurance. UAC Business Service member The Fold Legal has issued an updated summary of the revised timetable. Click here to read more. UAC General Manager William Legge says while [...]

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has granted an automatic extension of time to entities with Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) certification due by 1 July 2020. The extension to 15 December 2020 is automatic within the FATCA registration system. More information is available at Q21 in the ‘FATCA [...]

Changes to the Covid-19 JobKeeper arrangements came into force on 1 May 2020 with the introduction of Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No 2) 2020. This includes a monthly declaration of your business’s current and projected turnover. Click here to read more. Remember, there is an [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

With many businesses’ team members working from home, companies need to consider when electronic signatures are acceptable in contracts. Clyde & Co has provided a guide to explain when electronic signatures can be used in various corporate contracts - click here.

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 [...]

The Long Service Leave Act in NSW has been changed to enable added flexibility due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Clyde & Co has provided an article detailing changes to the Act - click here.