Federal Parliament has recently legislated its $130 billion JobKeeper scheme. This will result in approximately 6 million workers receiving a fortnightly payment of $1,500 through their employer. These employees must have been employed at 1 March 2020 and remain employed during this time.

State and territory revenue offices continue to make announcements in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Relevant to many businesses will be the numerous payroll tax changes. The changes include waivers and deferrals for eligible businesses as well as the bringing forward of cuts to tax-free thresholds in some jurisdictions.

Further to my article on the COVID-19 JobKeeper measure, and pending the release of legislation, on 5 April 2020 Treasury further updated and expanded its JobKeeper fact sheets and included a ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQ) document.

As foreshadowed in our earlier article, on 30 March 2020 the Federal Government announced further COVID-19 business support – the JobKeeper Payment.

Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses significantly affected by Coronavirus outbreak be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees.

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has issued a timely reminder that a lengthy period of service is not a “get out of jail free card” for an employee when challenging the fairness of their dismissal in BlueScope Steel Ltd v Habak [2019] FWCFB 5702.

It has become popular for employers to pay an annualised salary to award-covered employees. 

The Fair Work Commission’s Expert Panel has handed down its annual wage review ruling granting a 3% wage increase to the national minimum wage and all modern award minimum wages.

A Federal Election is anticipated in the first half of this year. If current opinion polls are to be believed there is a real possibility that the Government will change, which is likely to result in industrial relations reform. 

Thousands of businesses across regional Victoria have already taken advantage of the Victorian Government’s regional payroll tax cuts, which have saved businesses more than $31 million in the first financial year it was introduced.

Temperature regulation in the office can be a source of frustration for employees, with it being near impossible for the thermostat to maintain a temperature that suits everyone.

In a recent Fair Work Commission decision, Commissioner David Gregory held that Champions IGA lawfully terminated the employment of an employee who was subject to domestic violence.  

Unpaid family and domestic violence leave have been enshrined in Australian law, with almost all Australian employees now having access to five days’ unpaid family and domestic violence leave each year.

The Board of Taxation (the Board) released a consultation guide for the review of the income tax residency rules for individuals.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has denied a taxpayer a capital gains tax (CGT) discount on a gain on the disposal of shares she acquired as part of an employee share scheme (ESS).

A taxpayer has been found liable for a tax bill of $106,058 in relation to shares they acquired as part of an employee share scheme (ESS) with their previous employer, NewSat Limited, a now insolvent company with a share value of nil. 

As reported in our earlier article on Harding v FCT [2018] FCA 837, the Federal Court ruled that the taxpayer who lived and worked in Bahrain was an Australian tax resident.

On 9 July 2018, in a Media Release, the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, announced the release of the self-initiated Board of Taxation report, dated August 2017, on a new tax residency model for individuals.  Minister O’Dwyer requested further analysis and consideration on the key recommendations before the Government takes a position on this matter. 

On 15 May 2018, the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic) (Act) received Royal Assent by the Victorian Parliament. The Act will apply to all employees in Victoria, unless they are explicitly excluded.

Sladen Legal recently held an event at the RACV club titled 'Regulatory overreach, more red tape or business as usual?'

Today, the Expert Panel for annual wage reviews (Panel) of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has held that it is appropriate to increase the modern award minimum wages by 3.5 per cent. The national minimum wage (NMW) will now be $719.20 per week (that is, $18.93 per hour). The determinations and order giving effect to the Panel’s decision will come into operation on 1 July 2018.