Get government support. Almost all Guild members will be eligible to apply for the Australian Government JobKeeper payment, so enrol now (you must enrol by 31 May to be able to claim), if you haven’t already done so.

On 24 April the Treasurer issued further changes to the JobKeeper Rules.  Details are available at https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/. Of particular interest to members are

• the deadline for enrolment has been extended from 30 April to 31 May (including getting each employee to complete the JobKeeper Employee Nomination Notice form), and
• there will be an alternative turnover test for eligibility of employees employed through a special purpose entity, rather than an operating entity.

On 23 April the ATO issued the rules guidelines in relation to alternative tests for fall in turnover for entities where there is not an appropriate relevant comparison period because of the specific circumstances of the business, including the impact of drought or bushfires. The seven different circumstances and the alternative tests are set out here. You only have to demonstrate that you satisfy one test to be eligible for JobKeeeper, even if more than one applies to your business. Other Australian Government support is here.

For your State and Territory Government support, see Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory , Queensland , South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The Fair Work Commission has produced an Information note – Government responses to COVID-19 pandemic. The current version (21 May 2020) is available at here.

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