THE INQUIRY into food pricing and food security in remote Indigenous communities will hold further public hearings over two days this week.

Julian Leeser MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Indigenous Affairs Committee, said the Committee would hear from key stakeholders from the Northern Territory and New South Wales including Land councils, other Indigenous peak bodies and agencies, leading academics, the Northern Territory Government, and key industry players such as Woolworths and Metcash.

"The collective expertise among the witnesses who will appear is extensive, and I look forward to hearing the insights they will share," Mr Leeser said.

"It is very important that the committee gets a thorough understanding of the food pricing and food security issues that are affecting remote Aboriginal communities. We look forward to hearing from witnesses about what dynamics are involved and what can be done to improve the situation."

The hearings will be conducted via telephone and video links due to social distancing requirements relating to COVID-19. Full programs are available at the inquiry website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 9am to 5pm AEST
Location: Via conference call

Date: Friday 24 July
Time: 9am to 2.20pm AEST
Location: Via conference call

An audio broadcast will be accessible at aph.gov.au/live

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THE extension of the JobKeeper wage subsidy, along with its associated industrial relations flexibility, will help business owners make smart, fair decisions that will keep their doors open and staff employed, according to Employsure, Australia’s largest workplace relations advisor.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed that the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program will run at a reduced rate for another six months from the end of September, while JobSeeker will continue for at least another three.

"This extension of JobKeeper and the IR flexibility that comes with it, will give small business owners a sense of certainty to move forward and make smart employment decisions into 2021,” Employsure managing director Ed Mallett said.

"Our main advice to business owners right now is to fully understand the details of the amended scheme, its potential repercussions and to get professional advice on how to implement it across their business.

"Even more importantly, employers shouldn’t use it as a reason to bury their heads in the sand. Subsidy shouldn't be confused for sustainability, and if you need to make hard decisions about the viability of your business, don't delay the inevitable.”

The wage subsidy will initially be reduced to $1200 per fortnight (fulltime) and $750 (part time) from the end of September, and dropped again to $1000 per fortnight (fulltime) and $650 (part time) in January. Eligibility criteria will apply.

"Business owners need to be cautious about how this will work day-to-day,” Mr Mallett said.

“JobKeeper 2.0 will still need to go through Parliament to be legislated and that's where the real rules about this program will emerge.

"There will be the inevitable potholes that business owners will find frustrating. For example, the February before the pandemic is being used as a benchmark to assess ‘employee hours worked’. What if an employee was on leave in the February pre-COVID? Will seasonal businesses that operate off-peak in February be disadvantaged by not having enough financial support to get them through their peak season that occurs in December?

"These are all questions that get answered after-the-fact, leaving small business owners to navigate the confusion in the absence of clarity.

"JobKeeper has been successful and it is welcome news that it will continue, but it's not perfect and we can't pretend that JobKeeper 2.0 won't present pain points and frustrations for many business owners."

www.employsure.com.au

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A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s defence, trade and international relations will turn its attention to public health at its next public hearing.

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, said the pandemic had exposed problems in Australia’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment supply chains.

Senator Fawcett said,  “Although our health system is amongst the best in the world, it can’t function without reliable supplies of drugs and equipment, especially during severe public health events like the pandemic.”

Witnesses from Aspen Medical, an Australian-owned health services supplier, and the Public Health Association of Australia will give evidence on aspects of Australia’s healthcare response to the pandemic.

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website. Submissions can be made until 24 July 2020.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 3pm – 4.30 pm AEST 
Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said small businesses are breathing a sigh of relief following today’s Federal Government announcement extending JobKeeper by six months.

“Thousands of small business owners across Australia will be sleeping better tonight, knowing JobKeeper will be maintained in its current form until the end of September,” Ms Carnell said.

“Small businesses will be comforted most by the Prime Minister’s remarks today that the Federal Government will continue to support small businesses who need it for the duration of this crisis.

“JobKeeper 2.0 will support small businesses from the end of September through until 28 March 2021," she said.

“From October to December the payment will reduce to a fortnightly rate of $1200 per full time employee and $750 for employees working 20 hours or less per week.

“From January until March that payment will reduce again to $1000 for full time workers and $650 for part timers.

“The payments are reducing at a reasonable rate, in line with predictions of economic recovery and trading conditions picking up. It’s generous support for small businesses, who can now plan ahead for at least the next six months," Ms Carnell said.

 “Small businesses, including sole traders, will need to prove their eligibility again in October and January by showing their turnover has fallen by 30 percent.

“Crucially it will allow struggling small businesses to continue operating and paying their staff. It will also keep small businesses connected to their staff, who have been stood down, so they can re-engage their team when the time comes to ramp up.

“We know that many of the small businesses struggling now were viable and strong just a few months ago and many have the capacity to recover from this.

“The government is providing the safety net these small businesses need to help them get to the other side of this crisis.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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