THE Smart Energy Council has slammed the Morrison Government’s announcement of $250 million to oil refineries as a “drop in the refinery in response to a fuel security crisis”.

“Providing $250 million to address a fuel security crisis is like putting $1 in the tank when you’re running out of petrol,” Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.

“After nine years of inaction from the Federal Government, Australia is facing a genuine fuel security crisis. If Australia’s supply routes are blocked, we have at most three weeks of supply before we run out of petrol and diesel.”

“Australia’s fuel security is an absolute disgrace. We desperately need a national fuel security policy and a national energy policy," he said.

“Scott Morrison’s gift to the oil companies and a short term drop in fuel excise is no substitute for a comprehensive plan.

“Australia needs to be investing in electric vehicles and zero emissions transport, renewable energy and renewable hydrogen, creating the jobs and industries of the future.

“We cannot dither any longer. We need national leadership on this critical issue.”

Emergency Fuel Security Summit, Sydney, April 21

The Smart Energy Council will be hosting an emergency Fuel Security Summit at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney, on April 21, to call for a national fuel security strategy. Keynote speakers include:

• Admiral Chris Barrie AC, Chief of Australian Defence Force 1998-2002;
• Professor Ross Garnaut AC, chairman Sunshot Zero Carbon Futures and director ZEN Energy;
• Zali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah;
• Cheryl Durrant, executive member, Australian Security Leader's Climate Group;
• Councillor, the Climate Council;
• Behyad Jafari, CEO Electric Vehicle Council;
• Richie Merzian, director Climate and Energy Program, The Australia Institute; and
• Allegra Spender, Independent candidate for Wentworth.

The Smart Energy Council is an independent peak body for the solar, energy storage and renewable energy industry.

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AS SMALL to medium businesses across Australia respond to sudden staff shortages because of the pandemic, the looming four-day Easter break is not what it’s cracked up to be when it comes to effectively understanding and managing correct holiday period entitlements for workers.

Employsure business partner, Emma Dawson,said thousands of workers continue to call in sick with short notice to employers because they have either tested positive to the Covid-19 virus or are forced to isolate because they are a close contact, putting SMEs employers further under the pump.

“As we head towards the Easter holiday period, we encourage employers to do all they can in this ever-changing environment to be as best prepared as possible for the break and understand the impact of employee entitlements on their business,” Ms Dawson said.

“While most people are looking forward to a four-day break and the beginning of school holidays, there are plenty of employers scratching their heads as they look to roster staff – particularly casual staff - and work out their different entitlements so they can do the right thing and still stay sustainable,” she said.

“This Easter break is shaping up to be one of the busiest we have seen for many years, as people take opportunity to visit family and friends and venture further afield in response to relaxed restrictions and border re-openings. That is a great opportunity for many businesses but creates an increased likelihood of an SME employer making an unintentional payment mistake because they are busy trying to cover for last minute gaps in staffing.”

Ms Dawson said the Employsure team was bracing for a spike in contacts over the holiday period from employers wanting help to navigate the complexity of worker entitlements, correctly remunerate staff and fulfil their many obligations under an array of Awards.

“Employsure has developed a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to support businesses and help them understand their obligations as an employer,” Ms Dawson said.

“Employers particularly need to understand the impact of the 11 minimum entitlements of the National Employment Standards (NES) on their business, which cover important issues such the maximum number of hours an employee can work in a week, obligations for parental, annual leave and other leave types, and responsibilities regarding flexible working arrangements.”

More information about NES entitlements can be found here, and 24/7 employment relations support offered by Employsure is available on 1300 651 415.  

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A 55-YEAR-OLD Melbourne former tax accountant was recently sentenced in the County Court to three years jail for tax fraud.

Immanuel Shmuel was convicted of attempting to obtain a financial advantage of more than $390,000 by amending his Business Activity Statements (BAS) to reduce his existing debt and receive a refund.

As the director, owner and authorised tax representative of E.C Services Pty Ltd (a bank franchisee), Mr Shmuel failed to lodge his BAS between July 2012 and June 2014. The ATO commenced an audit looking into the missing BAS, which resulted in almost $200,000 raised in outstanding debt and penalties.

When Mr Shmuel failed to pay the amount owing, the ATO applied to the Supreme Court to have the company wound up. But in the meantime, over a two day period, Mr Shmuel lodged 66 false BAS revisions, deliberately reducing the pay as you go (PAYG) withholding to nil.

Not only did this eliminate the debt, but it also created a purported credit of $144,538. Further investigations found the revisions were entirely fraudulent. Mr Shmuel subsequently requested a refund of the credit amount; however, the ATO did not pay out the refund.

Mr Shmuel’s tax practitioner registration was also terminated, and he has not lodged a new registration since.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Megan Croaker welcomed the sentence and said it reflected the serious nature of Mr Shmuel’s crimes.

“Tax professionals play an integral role in supporting the tax and super systems for all Australians," Ms Croaker said.

“We have a shared interest with registered agents, the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and tax professional associations to protect the community and the integrity of Australia’s tax and super system.

“Those people who try to evade or cheat the system will get caught and firm action will be taken. We have systems in place to detect this type of behaviour and it will not be tolerated.

“We welcome the sentence and will continue to work with tax professionals to ensure the integrity of the system and to protect honest tax professionals and the community from these types of crimes,” Ms Croaker said.

This matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

www.ato.gov.au

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THE Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has slammed Qantas's push to relax isolation rules for aviation workers, saying the airline would rather sacrifice workers' health than fill workforce gaps by reinstating the 2000 workers it 'illegally sacked'. 

“Public health is not about maximising Alan Joyce’s quarterly profit results," TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said. "Workers need isolation rules to stay, even if that is inconvenient to Mr Joyce.

"What Mr Joyce misleadingly calls absenteeism is actually sick leave, and every Australian worker is entitled to that."

In 2020, aviation lost 12,500 highly trained workers through redundancies and illegal outsourcing by Qantas, according to the TWU. In July 2021, the Federal Court found Qantas illegally outsourced its ground crew to prevent them bargaining and taking industrial action, Mr Kaine said.

"There are 2000 Qantas ground crew sitting at home waiting to be reinstated, after being illegally sacked so Qantas could rehire them on cheaper pay and worse conditions," he said.

"Rather than risking the health of everyone by scrapping isolation rules, Qantas could reinstate these 2000 workers to fill the gaps in our airports. 

"Qantas pocketed $865 million in JobKeeper and at the same time illegally outsourced its entire ground operations.

“Now the airline doesn’t have enough customer service workers, baggage handlers or ground staff to respond to surging demand."

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