THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced an inquiry into the use of alternative financing mechanisms in government expenditure, such as equity investments, loans and guarantees.

Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP noted that the inquiry would focus on reporting in the Budget papers on programs funded through alternative approaches; reasons for programs being funded through alternative approaches; and the costs associated with different policies.

“The committee will have particular regard to the issues raised in Parliamentary Budget Office Report No. 01/2020, Alternative Financing of Government Policies,” Ms Wicks said.

The committee invites submissions to the inquiry that address the terms of reference. Public hearings will be held in the coming months.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced its review into the operation, effectiveness and implications of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018.

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme was introduced in 2018 with the purpose of bringing transparency to activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals, particularly where those activities are intended to influence Australian political and governmental systems and processes. The Scheme also imposes obligations on former politicians and senior officials, and criminal penalties apply to those who fail to comply with the requirements of the Scheme.

The Committee requests submissions to the inquiry by Monday, November 29, 2021.

Prospective submitters are being advised that any submission to the committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at this link.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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PEAK INDUSTRY body, the Accommodation Association, today welcomed the Victorian Government Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme (CTRS), and encouraged all States and Territories to provide similar support.

With hotels across Victoria continuing to mitigate the impact of successive lockdowns on both their business operations and staff, the measures provide some hope in the face of flatlining consumer confidence.

Announced by Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford and passed last night, the Commercial Tenancy Relief Act 2021 includes some key changes from the previous scheme which take into account the absence of Jobkeeper, and will provide support to small businesses with a turnover under $50 million that have suffered a decline of at least 30 percent in turnover.
 
The Scheme will run until January 15, 2022, and will apply retrospectively from July 28, 2021.
 
The Victorian Small Business Commission will receive funding to cover mediation costs between tenants and landlords from reintroducing the CTRS Scheme, which can be accessed for free by both parties.
 
“This new CTRS legislation can’t come soon enough for our struggling Melbourne hotel operators , which can’t begin to fully recover until the Sydney lockdown ends and no one knows when that will be yet," Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said.

“We sincerely thank the Victorian Government and Minister Pulford for recognising the need to support businesses hanging on by a thread. Right now I know there are hotels and staff in Melbourne reliant on international and corporate travel out of Sydney that are effectively operating blindfolded, with no clear pathway forward.

“That’s why it’s critical the CTRS runs into 2022, as it recognises the need to support businesses impacted by lockdowns into next year. Snap lockdowns do not include a snap recovery, it will takes month for hotels to rebuild.

“While this legislation is a step in the right direction for our sector that needs to be mirrored across Australia, our hotels still desperately need a support measure which safeguards our staff and the businesses that employ them," Mr Long said.
 
"When borders reopen the accommodation sector will provide a key pillar our national tourism sector can use to rebuild, but governments must recognise our industry needs help to ensure we keep our staff engaged until then.”

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THE EMOTIONAL toll of reopening a business, only to have it close due to another lockdown, is adding to the stress of employers who are uncertain of what the future holds for them.

Victoria is now in its sixth lockdown - the third since the end of May. While the recently announced small business relief package is helping some financially, it’s the mental health of employers that is feeling the true impact of repeated lockdowns.

Employsure, an Australia workplace relations advisor, has seen an increase in calls to its employer advice line over the past three months from employers concerned on how restrictions are impacting their business.

“We’ve seen a dramatic 67 percent rise in mental and physical health and safety related calls over this time period from employers struggling to hold their business together, even with the financial support they’re receiving,” Employsure employment relations specialist Nicholas Hackenberg said.

“There’s also been a similar 66 percent increase in calls related to employee absence, a 26 percent rise in entitlement queries, as well as a sharp rise in terminations from heartbroken employers who simply can no longer afford to keep their staff on their books.

“Employers across the state have now been placed into a world of uncertainty for a sixth time and will again sadly be feeling the all too familiar sense of anxiety and stress.”

Employers over the coming days should plan for the worst and hope for the best, according to Mr Hackenberg. He said going into cash preservation mode could be more important now than ever before, especially in a post-JobKeeper world. Employers need to assess what costs can be fairly cut, and make changes to protect their cash flow. They should also consider their options for retaining, standing down, or making staff redundant during the lockdown.

Those working from home will also be feeling the pinch of lockdown, Mr Hackenberg said.

To support staff, employers should regularly check in on them to identify any issues that might impede their work, he said. Because everyday encounters with colleagues do not happen spontaneously with those working from home, employers should urge their employees to reach out to their peers to maintain a social connection.

Staying connected not only helps reduce stress and the feeling of isolation but it can boost productivity. It also helps employees communicate with their manager and team to keep them informed of what project they are working on.

To keep better track of employees, business owners should use employee management software such as BrightHR to manage sickness, rosters, work locations and all other sensitive information and documents, he suggested.

“Some businesses are resilient and managed to effectively pivot operations where applicable. For others however, a sixth lockdown could be the final nail in the coffin,” Mr Hackenberg said.

“The cost of running a business is far greater than what financial support could ever offer. While lockdowns are needed until our vaccination rate improves, unfortunately we’re going to see more unnecessary closures from emotionally drained employers who simply can no longer cope.”

www.employsure.com.au

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