The Honourable Judge Graeme Henson AM, Chief Magistrate, Local Court of NSW, has issued an updated memorandum on preliminary arrangements for return to normal sitting arrangements. The Chief Magistrate's Memorandum no.10 must be read in conjunction with the Chief Magistrate's Memorandum no.9. A copy of Memorandum no.10 and the associated forms will be placed on the Local Court website.

The NSW Government has released further details of a $9 million funding package to fast-track an upgrade of courts and corrections facility in regional communities. The funding forms part of more than $100 million for regional stimulus announced last month. The list of 63 courts that will receive the funding is available here.

Landlords providing rent relief for eligible tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 can now apply for land tax concessions online. Eligible landlords will be able to apply for a land tax concession of up to 25 per cent of their 2020 land tax liability on relevant properties so long as they pass on the full savings in the form of a rent reduction to their tenants. More here.

The Federal Government is boosting funding to Men's Referral Service and the Salvation Army to ensure more people can access support for domestic and family violence during the coronavirus pandemic. “No To Violence” will receive $2.4 million to work with men who use violence and controlling behaviour and will expand the capacity of the Men's Referral Service to provide telephone and online services nationwide over the coronavirus period. The Salvation Army will receive $320,000 additional funding under Keeping Women Safe in their Homes for its Safer in the Home program in response to an increase in demand for this service. More here.

The Morrison Government has released more details of the additional $63.3 million for frontline legal services to support Australians impacted by COVID-19. Of the $63.3 million in extra funding, $20 million will be used to assist those dealing with domestic violence matters. Another $29.8 million will help fund other COVID-19 issues, such as tenancy disputes, insurance, credit and debt related problems, and work-related claims. Read more here.

The Australian Tax Office says measures designed to protect the integrity of the early access to superannuation scheme have helped detect a small amount of fraudulent activity associated with the program. The ATO says its systems were not hacked or compromised. Read the ATO statement here.

Two-thirds of Australians say they feel anxious or worried about their own and others' safety and more than 600,000 have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU). Published today, the study is the first longitudinal examination of the social, mental, economic and political impacts of the coronavirus. It assesses people's attitudes and experiences of COVID-19 before and during the pandemic. Read more here.

The Law Society’s COVID-19 wellbeing portal has a range of resources and support services to help you through the pandemic and beyond.

This instrument amends Part 4.15 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules Instrument 2007 (No. 1) to assist reporting entities to meet their customer identification obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.