The NSW Government, in partnership with Legal Aid NSW and Law Access NSW, has launched a free legal help service for people facing legal issues under the COVID-19 public health restrictions, including job losses, social security entitlements, and family law issues regarding arrangements for children. Read more here.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has resolved it will continue to meet and report to Parliament regularly over the coming months to fulfil its role in scrutinising legislation, including laws relating to the COVID-19 response. Read more here.

While Legal Aid NSW offices are closed to protect public safety, Legal Aid is still providing advice and assistance by phone, email and AVL. Legal Aid has also produced a range of resources and collated resources from other government departments to assist individuals affected by legal issues during COVID-19. Find them here.

A special commission of inquiry will be established to investigate the events surrounding the Ruby Princess cruise ship. Premier Gladys Berejiklian will appoint Bret Walker SC as Commissioner for the inquiry, which will report back to the government in three to four months. Mr Walker will have extraordinary powers to examine all matters involving the cruise ship, including its departure and arrival, and the actions of all agencies and parties involved. Read more here.

ASIC has announced three temporary relief measures that will assist industry in providing consumers with affordable and timely financial advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. See details here.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects economic growth in Australia to rebound despite a global downturn worse than the global financial crisis (GFC). The IMF is forecasting the global economy to fall by 3.0 per cent in 2020, compared to a fall of 0.1 per cent in 2009. Economic growth in Australia is projected to fall by 6.7 per cent in 2020 but grow by 6.1 per cent in 2021, faster than the economies of the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and the UK. Read more here.

The ATO has published guidance on the eligibility of employers for the JobKeeper payment. See details here. 

This instrument adds Ch. 77 to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules (AML/CTF Rules) Instrument 2007 (No. 1). Part of the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ch. 77 is a time-limited measure that provides a reporting entity with an exemption from s. 32 of the AML/CTF Act to facilitate the early release of superannuation to those individuals approved by the Australian Taxation Office as meeting the relevant criteria.