Online lodgements for 2020-21 practising certificate (PC) and membership renewals are now open. For those who did not renew online last year, we really encourage you to try and do so this year. If you need help, our registry team members are happy to walk you through the process over the telephone on (02) 9926 0156.

You can find information on the operation of essential services during COVID-19, including courts, tribunals and legal services, youth justice, victim services and justices of the peace here.

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly changing the way Australians live and work, and phone and internet services are more important than ever. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has put together a webpage to help you navigate your way through phone and internet issues during the pandemic.

Small and medium businesses will have two years to pay deferred rent under the Federal Government’s mandatory Code of Conduct for tenants and landlords. States and territories will implement the mandatory code, including via legislation or regulation as appropriate, to implement the principles agreed on Friday 3 April. Read more here.

NSW Fair Trading is regularly updating information on its COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQs, which deal with several issues including auctions, strata meetings, residential tenancy and event cancellation refunds.

Find information to assist with understanding small business rights and obligations under the Australian Consumer Law relating to COVID-19 here.

National Cabinet has released the first set of theoretical scenario modelling undertaken to inform how Australia is preparing our health system, including our intensive care units, for coronavirus.

The NSW Government has deferred payroll tax payments for all businesses for six months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses with payrolls of $10 million or less will also be eligible for a 25 per cent reduction in their annual liabilities for 2019-20 when they complete their annual reconciliation. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said these measures will provide much needed cash flow and boost the liquidity of business at a critical time. Read more here.

In a special reduced sitting, Federal Parliament is today voting on a $130 billion package of COVID-19 measures. Read Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ministerial statement here. Details of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020 are here.

The official Australian Government advice is that you must stay home this Easter to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Going on holidays is not essential. Going to someone’s home is not essential. You must stay home except for: shopping for essentials, exercising, medical care or travelling to work. Public gatherings, excluding household members, have been reduced to a maximum of two people. The NSW Government website has further information about enforcement measures in our state.

Under the Federal  Government’s JobKeeper Payment, businesses impacted by the coronavirus will be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. Affected employers will be able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020, for a maximum period of six months.