The Morrison Government is continuing to support businesses through COVID‑19 by providing further tax relief to attract and retain workers and reduce red-tape as part of our economic recovery plan.
For the first time, businesses with an aggregated annual turnover between $10 million and $50 million will have access to up to ten small business tax concessions. The changes are estimated to support an additional 20,000 businesses and their employees.
The expanded concessions, as part of the 2020-21 Budget will apply in three phases:
From 1 July 2020, eligible businesses will be able to immediately deduct certain start-up expenses and certain prepaid expenditure.
From 1 April 2021, eligible businesses will be exempt from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax on car parking and multiple work-related portable electronic devices, such as phones or laptops, provided to employees.
From 1 July 2021, eligible businesses will be able to access the simplified trading stock rules, remit pay as you go (PAYG) instalments based on GDP adjusted notional tax, and settle excise duty and excise-equivalent customs duty monthly on eligible goods. Eligible businesses will also have a two-year amendment period apply to income tax assessments for income years starting from 1 July 2021.
In addition, from 1 July 2021, the Commissioner of Taxation’s power to create a simplified accounting method determination for GST purposes will be expanded to apply to businesses below the $50 million aggregated annual turnover threshold.
This announcement builds on the extensive support provided for small and medium sized businesses during the COVID-19 crisis that has included JobKeeper, extending the Instant Asset Write Off, providing a Cash Flow Boost of up to $100,000 for employing small businesses, and boosting access to capital through our COVID-19 SME loan Guarantee Scheme.
Small business is the backbone of our economy. The Morrison Government will continue to support our small and medium sized businesses as part of our economic recovery plan.
The Morrison Government is making significant digital reforms to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to cut red tape for more than 4,000 businesses applying to register medicines and medical devices each year, as part of its Deregulation Agenda which will also improve the timeliness of report on patient safety.
Our Government is investing $12 million over four years to digitise, transform and modernise the TGA’s business systems and infrastructure, better connecting services to get medicines and devices to patients sooner.
New digital processes will deliver simpler and faster interactions between industry and government. This means earlier approvals of medical products, reduced administrative effort, and timelier decision-making by the TGA.
Under this Deregulation Agenda, our Government is focused on ensuring regulation is and remains fit-for-purpose – making it easier to do business while ensuring essential safeguards with the lightest touch.
This measure will yield a significant reduction in red tape, cutting costs for the medicines and medical devices industry. It will also position Australia to more quickly access emerging and new health technologies in the international market.
The TGA receives around 26,000 applications every year for medicines and medical devices to be listed or amended on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), which allows them to be imported, sold and used in Australia.
The digital changes will enable simpler and more secure interactions between Government and industry to apply for, track, pay, and manage listings for regulated and subsidised health related products and services.
The TGA receives 15,000 adverse drug reaction reports on patient safety per year which are entered manually through PDF rather than through a central database.
With these reforms, medical companies will now be able to use an electronic database to report these patients safety events with automatic data transfer – saving them up to 15 minutes per report.
All Australians will benefit from a streamlined process which increases the timeliness of decisions on the safety, quality and efficacy of therapeutic goods, and their approval for listing on the ARTG.
Consumers and health care professionals can also have greater confidence in the safety and efficacy of therapeutic goods, with increased transparency built into the reforms.”
Cyber security will also be bolstered to ensure the protection of commercial-in-confidence information from industry.
World premieres, Australian debuts and festival-specific commissions will form part of an eclectic and ambitious program being put together for City of Newcastle’s flagship arts event.
The first details of the New Annual program will be unveiled at Civic Theatre tonight, showcasing the diverse line-up of visual and performing artists on the program for the 10-day festival, which runs from 12-21 February 2021 and will feature more than 100 artists and 50 events.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the event represented a $750,000 City investment in the arts and cultural sector at a difficult time for the industry.
“City of Newcastle is proud to invest in the arts, with the New Annual celebrating the depth of talent in our thriving cultural sector and providing a platform for national artists to showcase their work in our city,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Our long-term goal is to position New Annual as a leading arts festival on the national events calendar, sitting alongside Sydney Festival, Vivid Sydney and Adelaide Fringe.
“Over time the festival will grow to become a significant generator of cultural tourism, using arts and culture to share the city’s stories with the world, and position Newcastle as an innovative and creative region with a vibrant cultural history and bright future.”
The program features five festival-specific works commissioned from local artists and companies as part of a $86,096 grant from the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program. These include a new contemporary dance piece by Catapult Choreographic Hub inspired by and performed in the iconic Civic Park fountain and a shipping container turned cabaret theatre, bar and festival hub for local performances including an anchor show by Fingers Crossed Creative. Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Catapult Choreographic Hub dancers at Civic Park.
The invited artist program will include everything from the world premiere of two new compositions performed by Omega Ensemble, to a football-inspired new urban movement form founded by Feras the Shield and Maestro Ahil, while the Civic Theatre, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle Libraries and Newcastle Museum will also present a range of performances, exhibitions and podcasts.
Councillor Carol Duncan said New Annual would enhance Newcastle’s reputation as a rich hub for visual and performing arts, while also providing a flagship cultural event with wide appeal.
“Newcastle has a thriving arts scene, with more artists per capita than any other city in Australia. We also have some of the most fantastic cultural venues, from the heritage-listed Civic Theatre and the iconic City Hall to the wonderful Newcastle Art Gallery, which houses one of Australia’s finest collections of public art,” Cr Duncan said.
“New Annual will provide Newcastle’s thriving independent arts sector with an opportunity to present work on a larger scale while attracting leading artists and audiences to share in this landmark arts event.” Councillor Carol Duncan with Zackari Watt and performers of Fingers Crossed Creative inside Civic Theatre.
New Annual’s program has been designed with the flexibility to operate as a COVID Safe event depending on Public Health Orders. To find out more visit www.newannual.com. The full program and tickets will be released in early January 2021. New Annual Program Preview
Examples of festival-specific local commissions, invited artists and City of Newcastle events: Massive Band – Bree Van Reyk
Massive Band is a community-engaged project that invites girls and women to join a massive rock band. A series of workshops conducted over several months teach participants to play three iconic rock songs by legendary women artists, which are then performed on mass at the performance event, led by Bree Van Reyk. Acquist – Catapult Choreographic Hub
Newcastle’s renowned professional contemporary dance company Catapult Choreographic Hub are working on a new site-specific commission to be performed in the iconic Civic Park Fountain. It will make use of its striking architecture and explore the same themes as the fountain itself – Newcastle’s unique balance of beautiful natural environment and history as an industrial city. Taylor’s Run – Curious Legends
Curious Legends are a local visual theatre company best known for their large-scale illuminated puppet performances for children and families. They have been commissioned by City of Newcastle to create a new site-specific performance at Summerhill Waste Management Centre that will explore themes of sustainability, waste reduction and environmental care. Passenger – Jessica Wilson & Ian Pidd
Passenger is a theatre work, which places its audience inside a moving suburban bus. Passenger references Western films where the cowboy seeks to ‘right’ a ‘wrong’ that the law neglects or cannot rectify. Two strangers discuss the ethics of contemporary life before the female reveals her true identity and her mission of retribution. Written by Nicola Gunn and directed by Jessica Wilson and Ian Pidd, Passenger is a sweeping and cinematic theatrical experience. Civic Theatre Presents: Civic Bar
The Civic Theatre will come alive throughout the festival, with Civic Bar becoming a hub of nightly programming, including the return of crowd favourite Civic Bar Beats. Newcastle Art Gallery Presents: Void Void brings together contemporary Aboriginal artistic practice from across the country. Curated by Emily McDaniel, the exhibition features existing works across the mediums of drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, video and photography by artists including Pepai Jangala Carroll, Jonathan Jones, Mabel Juli, John Mawurndjul AM, Hayley Millar-Baker, Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, Rusty Peters, Doreen Reid Nakamarra, Andy Snelgar, Dr. Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher AO, Freddie Timms, James Tylor, Jennifer Wurrkidj, and Josephine Wurrkidj.
Ahead of the October long weekend, locals and visitors to Newcastle are encouraged to be mindful of COVID-19 safety while enjoying the City’s beaches and ocean baths. While the usual beach management practices apply including swimming between the flags and observing the instructions of lifeguards, people are encouraged to maintain 1.5 metres or a towel length between others.
This weekend COVID Safe Beach Marshals will patrol local beaches and baths to educate the community about requirements under the Public Health Order, monitor crowd sizes and promote water safety.
People are asked to limit gatherings to 20 people or less when outdoors and to avoid crowded areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Once you’ve had your swim, surf and play we encourage you to pack up to ensure there is space at the beach for others.
If everyone follows the safety measures set out in the Public Health Order, the community will be able to enjoy Newcastle’s beautiful beaches and the predicted warm weather safely.
The concept design for the new, seven-storey Acute Services Building for John Hunter and John Hunter’s Children’s hospitals has been unveiled, marking a milestone for the NSW Government’s $780 million health precinct.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct would drive significant economic growth in the Greater Newcastle region, generating jobs in construction and health.
“John Hunter hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in NSW and this investment will provide enhanced health facilities ensuring the region has a world-class hospital to cater to its growing population,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Construction of the precinct will support more than 3,000 jobs over the life of the project helping stimulate the economy, a key component of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the redevelopment will significantly increase critical care capacity, with a 60 per cent increase in the Intensive Care Unit capacity and almost 50 per cent more theatres, interventional suites and procedural spaces.
“The Precinct will drive innovative collaborations between the health, education and research sectors, ultimately improving patient outcomes for communities in the Hunter region,” Mr Hazzard said.
The new Acute Services Building will include:
A new emergency department;
Critical care services (adult and paediatric);
Operating theatres, interventional and imaging services;
Birthing suite and inpatient maternity unit;
Neonatal intensive care and special care nursery;
Larger and redeveloped inpatient units; and
Rooftop helipad.
Stage 1 of an interim Emergency Department expansion has also been completed early as part of NSW Government’s COVID-19 response.
“I’m also pleased the Emergency Department expansion was delivered five months ahead of schedule, providing an additional 12 dedicated paediatric treatment areas and additional capacity to deal with the pandemic, with Stage 2 scheduled for completion early next year,” Mr Hazzard said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack, said the new Acute Services Building will serve the Hunter region for many years to come.
“This is a great opportunity to share the future vision of the Precinct, which will transform health care in the Hunter, bringing expanded, enhanced health services closer to home,” Ms Cusack said.
Early works on the new Acute Services Building are expected to commence in 2021 with main works construction scheduled to commence in 2022.
The NSW Government and City of Sydney Council today announced they would provide up to $20 million in joint funding to boost the CBD economy, support businesses and create jobs across the vital summer period.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government will commit up to $15 million and Council would provide a further $5 million towards a range of initiatives to encourage more people to visit, eat, shop and enjoy the CBD.
“The pandemic forced the CBD into a COVID hibernation and it’s vital we revive our use of the city for work and pleasure, to keep people in jobs and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This summer will be a testing time for many businesses but this funding will help breathe life back into the city and get our economy moving again.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the NSW Government’s recent Summer Summit highlighted the need to relax restrictions and red tape to make it easier for businesses to draw people back into the city.
“Having more outdoor dining and entertainment areas across the CBD is an obvious drawcard in bringing people back into the city. The planning system is getting out of the way in order to create more seamless and streamlined processes that save business owners time and effort,” Mr Stokes said.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the summer lifeline would be extended with safety front of mind.
“It’s critical we show flexibility in how we operate as a city this summer and we’ll be doing that in line with COVID public health orders,” Mr Dominello said.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said council wanted to ensure city businesses don’t just survive, they thrive in the long term.
“It is important that we move quickly to deliver a clear plan for activating the city for summer. The City and the NSW Government are working together on a shared vision for transforming Sydney into a 24-hour alfresco city over summer and
beyond,” Ms Moore said.
“To help Sydney get back on its feet we’re going to set up outdoor performance stages in key city locations, fund live music and performance in venues, bars and restaurants, and deliver a summer of outdoor dining.”
With the start of summer 59 days away, the Government and Council are now working through a range of funding options to support initiatives that could include:
allowing more flexible outdoor dining, drinking and seating arrangements for
established businesses;
will consider entertainment stages across the CBD, in areas such as Martin Place;
enhancing promotion of cultural institutions and allowing them to stay open late;
increasing promotion and advertising to attract people into the Sydney CBD;
exploring COVID Safe creative ideas such as hosting outdoor cultural events;
recruiting renowned local artists to perform in dining areas and entertainment
Police are appealing for public assistance after three children were reportedly approached in the Hunter Valley yesterday.
About 12.20pm (Thursday 1 October 2020), three children – aged 11, eight and four – were playing at the northern end of a reserve near Hunt Place at Muswellbrook, when they saw a man walking towards them.
The three girls started walking back to their homes when the man called out to the children and pushed all three to the ground.
The male then attempted to touch the eight-year-old’s face but she pushed him away and the girls ran from the reserve.
The eldest child called police who attended a short time later and took the girls to their respective homes.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have commenced inquiries into the incident.
The man is described as being between 155cm to 165cm tall, in his early to mid-20s, with a dark complexion, medium build, black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who may have information which could assist investigators is urged to come forward.
Police have charged a man after he was allegedly found to be in possession of a firearm in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
Shortly before 12pm (Thursday 1 October 2020), officers attached to Northern Region Operation Utah observed a grey Volkswagen Golf allegedly accelerating away from police on Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle.
A short time later, police from the Hunter Regional Enforcement Squad and Northern High-Visibility Policing Unit located the car at a carpark of a licensed premises on the Pacific Highway, Gateshead, with a female passenger inside.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located a sawn-off firearm that was wrapped in clothing and a plastic bag containing ammunition.
The items were seized for forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, two men – aged 24 and 32 – were arrested inside the venue and taken to Belmont Police Station
The 24-year-old was charged with seven offences including:
Possess unauthorised prohibited firearm;
Possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm;
Possess loaded firearm public place;
Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority;
Possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority;
Not keep firearm safe; and
Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
The 32-year-old was charged with a breach of bail offence.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Friday 2 October 2020).
Investigations are ongoing, anyone who may have witnessed a grey Volkswagen Golf between 11am and 12.30pm in the Newcastle area or who may have dashcam footage from the nearby area during these times is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Morrison Government’s changes to local content rules is a missed opportunity to support Australian stories and local jobs, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for Communications, Media and Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Government has failed to deliver real reform today and has let the global steaming giants off the hook. This is a decision that if not corrected will cost local jobs and undermine Australia’s creative and cultural heritage.
“The Government’s reforms to local content quotas must result in more quality Australian stories on our screens, not less. This will only happen if the global streaming giants are regulated properly.
“Without legal requirements on the global giants, our screens and children’s devices will become even more clogged with trashy, cheap shows from America. Our Aussie kids deserve better than this.
“It’s time to ensure the big streaming giants like Netflix, Disney and Amazon who are flooding the domestic market contribute to Australia’s local screen industry, jobs and telling local stories.
“Local stories are important for helping us understand who we are as Australians, what values we share, our cultural heritage and where we see ourselves in the rest of the world.
“For our kids, locally made shows are important for them to see their own worlds reflected back at them, not just cartoon characters eating chilli dogs and speaking in American accents.
“From Bananas in Pyjamas to the legendary Round the Twist, high quality Australian made children’s television has always played an important role in shaping young hearts and minds in this country.
“The Greens will fight for local content requirements on streaming services to be legislated.
“Research shows two thirds of Australians support laws requiring streaming services like Netflix and Amazon to show and fund locally made shows and films – this was a no brainer and the Morrison Government has missed it.”
The Morrison Government’s announcement today of $61.7m to ‘boost local tourism and preserve our environment’ is a drop in the ocean of what’s needed for a green recovery, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Tourism Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Australians want our environment protected more than ever. There is a win-win opportunity here, but again the Morrison Government has missed the mark.
“Our special nature spots and the green tourism industry needs real investment, not just the crumbs left over after the Coalition has given the bulk of support to the fossil fuel lobby. This announcement is an insult to the thousands of small businesses that rely on our beautiful beaches, forests and parks being protected and cared for.
“There are more jobs to be created in restoring and protecting our environment than wrecking it. Yet, this Government is putting more money into trashing things than caring for nature. With millions of people out of work, investing in a Green Recovery would be good for local jobs, good for our tourism and good for the environment.
“I visited Kangaroo Island this week, which was ravaged by fire over the summer, and it was very clear so much more is needed to restore the natural environment the premier tourist destination is known for. This announcement isn’t going to cut it for the bushfire hit areas or other tourism destinations where our pristine natural world is the main attraction.”
Greens Spokesperson for Oceans Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“$20 million dollars for our declining reefs is a drop in the ocean.
“It shows just how out of touch the Government really is that with everything we know about the declining health of our oceans, it is committing so little.
“Artificial reefs and an aquarium are Band-Aid solutions to an emergency.
“We need definitive action on climate change and our warming oceans.
“I want my grandchildren to see our marine life at the beach, not behind a glass window.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Catapult Choreographic Hub dancers at Civic Park.
Councillor Carol Duncan with Zackari Watt and performers of Fingers Crossed Creative inside Civic Theatre.
While the usual beach management practices apply including swimming between the flags and observing the instructions of lifeguards, people are encouraged to maintain 1.5 metres or a towel length between others.