Werriwa eNewsletter

21 August 2020

I return to Canberra next week for the next sitting of Federal Parliament.

Following negotiations with the Government and Chief Medical Officer, arrangements have been put in place to ensure Parliament continues to sit while maintaining health guidelines.

It is vitally important, as a democracy, that Parliament continues to scrutinise, debate and pass legislation. I look forward to holding the Government to account during this important period.

While the significant drop in COVID-19 cases is very pleasing, the virus is still circulating in our community. If you have any symptoms, however slight, you must get a test and isolate until the results are known. The quicker we can achieve zero cases, the sooner we can go back to a more normal life.

Keep safe and kind regards

Anne

Changes to JobSeeker and JobKeeper

Changes to JobSeeker and JobKeeper will soon come into affect:

JobSeeker

Those on the JobSeeker scheme currently receive a total of $1115 a fortnight. This will change on 24 September to $815 a fortnight and will last until 31 December.

Further announcements will be made regarding the change to this scheme for 2021 at a later date. People on JobSeeker are still required to apply for four jobs a month to continue receiving payments.

JobKeeper

The JobKeeper supplement is currently set at a rate of $1500 a fortnight. This changes on September 28 to $1200 a fortnight. However, if you work fewer than 20 hours a week you will receive $750 a fortnight. These changes will last until 3 January 2021.

It will again change on January 4 to $1000 a fortnight, or $650 for those working fewer than 20 hours a week. This further change will last until March 28 2021.

For a business to access the JobKeeper extension to January 3, they will have to show that their GST turnover has significantly fallen in the June quarter and the September quarter. Businesses with a turnover of $1 billion or more need to prove a 50 percent decline, while businesses under the threshold of $1 billion will need to prove a 30 percent decline.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations must prove a 15 percent decline. This does not include schools and universities.

Pension Increase on Hold

The Morrison Government has admitted that the Pension will not be indexed until March 2021, at the earliest. This is the first time it hasn’t been indexed since 1997.

Most other payments, including the Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and JobSeeker Payment, will not be indexed either. This is the worst possible time to put more pressure on the household budget for seniors and the most vulnerable Australians.

Scott Morrison needs to explain why he is allowing pensions to stagnate in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.

Tax Time: Contractors and Consultants

If you are a contractor or a consultant, you may need to report payments you receive from businesses you have worked for during the year on your tax return.

This applies to you if you provide any of the following services:

• Building and construction
• Cleaning
• Courier
• Delivery and road freight
• information and technology
• Security, investigation or surveillance

Businesses who pay you to provide these services may need to include your payments to the ATO as part of their business’ annual reporting. The ATO will use this information to prefill these payments in your tax return, making it easier for you to get tax time right.

For more information on taxable payments reporting, visit the ATO here.

Werriwa Art Prize

Entries have now opened for the 23rd Annual Liverpool Art Society Exhibition.

As part of this year's exhibition, I'm excited to announce that I will be sponsoring the inaugural Werriwa Art Prize.

The Werriwa Art Prize will go to the artwork that best reflects the electorate of Werriwa. The winner will receive a $500 prize and grace the cover of my 2021 Christmas Card.

Get your entries in now! Entries close 11:59pm, Friday 25 September 2020.

Visit the Casula Powerhouse website for more information on how to enter.

Fairfield Council Chemical CleanOut Day 

This Sunday, Fairfield Council will be holding a free Chemical CleanOut and E-waste Collection Day. The event will take place at Fairfield Showground between 9:00am to 3:30pm.

Residents can bring a maximum of 20 litres or 20 kg of a single item that can’t go in regular bins. This includes solvents, paints, gas bottles, pesticides, computers, TVs and other household appliances.

For more details, see the Council's website here.

Naming the New City

The Western Sydney community will be given the chance to be a part of the naming process for Sydney’s third city, located at the core of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis in what is now Bringelly and Rossmore.

Unfortunately, the committee that will decide the name has no local community representation, no Council or Federal Government representation and no representation from our indigenous community.

The Airport and Aerotropolis are once in a century projects of national importance with bipartisan support from all three levels of government. Decisions like this should not be left to tokenistic gestures by a State Liberal Government.

If you have an idea for a great name be sure to submit your suggestion here. Keep in mind it should be one word.

Submissions close Sunday 20 September 2020.