Workers will receive $1500-per-fortnight ‘JobKeeper’ wage subsidy for the next 6 months It applies to businesses losing a minimum 30% of income (50% for revenue over $1bn) The ATO will manage the scheme through Single Touch Payroll The flat rate payment applies to people employed at March 1 (provided they are reinstated if subsequently… Read more »
Public gatherings will be limited to two people under new rules to deal with coronavirus in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. The new rules means previously allowed outdoor personal training sessions are cut to one-on-one, and skate parks and playgrounds will close from Monday. “In addition, public areas – public playgrounds, outside gyms… Read more »
The Morrison Government has launched Coronavirus Australia, a new app for official COVID-19 information, as well as a Whatsapp feature, partnering with Facebook and Atlassian to produce it. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the launch of the app during a $1.1 billion commitment to additional telehealth, mental health, domestic violence and emergency relief services on… Read more »
$669m is for telehealth – online consultations with GPs and other health services $74m is for mental health amid concerns about the impact of self-isolation $150m is for domestic and family violence support following a 75% spike in online searches A new government app offers advice, the latest news and other support $200 is for… Read more »
People arriving in Australia from midnight March 30 will be forced to quarantine in designated hotels in the capital cities The Army will be sent to assist local police in ensuring quarantine measures are observed More economic stimulus is coming, including plans to ‘hibernate’ businesses to emerge from the shutdown State and territory leaders are… Read more »
These are strange times we live in. The global COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a new reality for all of us, with businesses reeling most from the impact and introducing significant changes. Many workforces across the world have turned to remote working, as travel restrictions and work-from-home directives are now widespread and mandated. Airwallex’s China office… Read more »
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has suggested tougher lockdown conditions could be coming as NSW reported 190 new cases of coronavirus overnight. While this represents 10% fall on the previous day’s increase, the premier said she is not ruling out stricter lockdown measures in an effort to turn the tide on diagnoses and flatten the curve. “If… Read more »
ASX-listed MedAdvisor has fast-tracked plans to launch an “Uber” for pharmacy delivery services as part of the company’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. MedAdvisor (ASX: MDR) shares have soared more than 25% today on the news to close at 42 cents, with the company’s CEO, Robert Read, saying they’d skip a pilot phase and go… Read more »
For those lucky enough or able to, many Australians are now working remotely to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. For some, this involves a shift in the way we work. Slack itself is functioning as a temporary all-remote company, with more than 2,000 people from 18 offices across 10 countries working from home due… Read more »
The parents of Australian children have ignored the pleadings of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer and increasingly withdrew their children from school over the past week. Even before the Victorian government announced it would end its first term early and the NSW Premier urged parents to keep their kids at home… Read more »
The Australian government has scrapped a decision to limit hairdresser appointments to just 30 minutes, just 24 hours after the new rules were announced, despite the industry saying it would rather be shut down. On Tuesday night, the National Cabinet, made up of the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders announced the new… Read more »
The closure of restaurants and cafes – among many other small businesses – by the Morrison government in response to the growing coronavirus has seen them pivot quickly to takeaway food in order to generate cash flow and hopefully survive. For global tech companies with food deliveries it’s been like shooting fish in a barrel,… Read more »
NSW residents will cop a $1,000 on-the-spot fines for failing to observe social distancing laws, and corporations, $5000, under new powers introduced by the state government. Police are urging people to dob in individuals or businesses breaking COVID-19-related directions to Crime Stoppers. The NSW Public Order and Riot Squad will be especially equipped with face… Read more »
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned that stricter lockdown measures will be coming to his state, less that 12 hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned international travel, property auctions, food courts and limited weddings to five people, among a range of increased isolation measures. While the federal government has begun incrementally increasing restrictions every… Read more »
NEW LAWS FROM MIDNIGHT, MARCH 25 BANNED International travel (except for essential workers) Real estate auctions, open houses, and other auctions Food courts in shopping centres, except for takeaways (shopping centres remain open) Wellness and yoga centres, barre and spin facilities Indoor and outdoor play centres, youth centres and swimming pools Social sporting activities Spas,… Read more »
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