Letter to Member; COVID-19: JobKeeper Extension And Change After September (21 July 2020)

Dear Member / Friend,

Today the Prime Minister announced changes to JobKeeper and JobSeeker.

JOBKEEPER
JobKeeper is to be extended beyond the end of September, but not in its present form. Significant changes are:

Extension

• Jobkeeper will be extended for the periods – 28 September 2020 – 3 January 2021, and 4 January 2021 – 28 March 2021.

Eligibility

• from 28 September businesses seeking to claim JobKeeper will be required to reassess their eligibility by reference to their actual turnover for the June and September quarters of 2020. They will need to show that they have met the relevant continuing decline in turnover in both of those quarters to show that they are eligible for JobKeeper from 28 September 2020 – 3 January 2021, and for the period 4 January 2021 – 28 March 2021.
• The decline in the turnover test – 30% for businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $1billion, 50% for businesses with an aggregated turnover of $1billion plus, and 15% for Australian charities and not for profits that are registered (excluding schools and universities).

Payment rates. The payment will be reduced and paid at 2 rates:

• From 28 September 2020 – 3 January 2021 - $1,200 per fortnight for all eligible employees who in the four weeks of pay periods before 1 March 2020 were working in the business for 20 hours or more, $750 for other eligible employees and business participants.
• From 4 January 2021 – 28 March 2021 it will be $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees working more than 20 hours per week on average and $650 per fortnight for all other eligible employees and business participants.
• Businesses and not for profits, as you would anticipate, will need to nominate which rate is to apply to particular employees.

The JobKeeper payment will continue to be paid in arrears and employers will continue to be required to make payments equal to or greater than the amount of the JobKeeper payment.

Here is the link to the JobKeeper package

JOBSEEKER
For recipients, the Jobseeker Supplement of $550 will in September be reduced to $250. The total payment to be received will be reduced from $1,115 to $815.

From the end of September JobSeeker recipients will have an income free area of $300, up from the present $106.

There will also be changes to the rules surrounding assets and applying for jobs.  Please see the transcript of the Prime Minister’s press conference today.

BUSINESS NSW
Business NSW  has produced a summary of the results of a survey it conducted in relation to COVID-19. Please find the press release in the event that you have not already received it.

Stay safe and stay distant.

Kind Regards,

 Anthony

Anthony Fox
President
Armidale Business Chamber
afox@foxlegal.com.au
0402 838 077

BUSINESS COACHING

The Armidale Business Chamber has put together a free business coaching package to support business as they adjust to significant change under very tight timeframes and difficult circumstances.

In partnership with Mandy Walker of Focus First the Chamber is providing a 45 minute one on one business coaching consultation (via phone).  Each session is tailored to the needs of the individual business, whether those are: 'tactical and practical, providing help with navigating the now; or survival, keeping your business afloat; or for future planning, reimagining your business or starting a new one.

The consult is by appointment only. Contact Mandy via email or phone 0459 098 618.

Join our dedicated Facebook Groups here:

COVID-19 Business Advisory and Resources

Re-imagining and Re-engineering Business (COVID-19)