COVID-19 News

Extension of Relief for Tenancies Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

08 Jan 2021

Commencing on the 1st January, 2021 the Retail and Other commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation (No 3) 2020 came into operation. Members will be aware that since April 2020 tenants that have qualified for receipt of monies under the JobKeeper scheme have been able to negotiate a reduction in their rental payments to landlords consistent with the reduction in turnover experienced by the tenant’s business during the pandemic.

MTA NSW Welcomes the Government Economic Response to COVID-19 – Assistance for Employers.

29 Oct 2020

Addressing a fundamental shortage of skills in the industry over the last 10 years remains a challenge for many Auto Trades Employers. MTA NSW Training understands there is no one solution. There are many young Australians keen to become an Automotive Tradesperson, with some beginning their careers undertaking Automotive Prevocational Courses while in senior high school

MTA NSW's Employer Guide to Jobkeeper 2.0 and the Workplace Post-Jobkeeper

11 Sep 2020

As promised in our September IR Newsletter, the MTA NSW Employment Relations Department have prepared a Guide to assist Members in navigating the new Jobkeeper rules and the amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009.

What you need to know to ensure you can claim JobKeeper for your 1 July 2020 eligible employees

27 Aug 2020

On 14 August 2020, the Treasury released the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payment and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 7) 2020 which expanded the JobKeeper Scheme to allow employers the ability to nominate their 1 July 2020 eligible employees.

UPDATE: Border zone created between NSW and QLD

07 Aug 2020

The Queensland Government has announced overnight new rules surrounding the Border Closure with New South Wales which will take effect at 1am on Saturday 8 August 2020. These new rules replace those set out in EDM provided to members yesterday 6 August 2020 and are set by the Border Restrictions Direction (No.11). The border closure will apply until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless it is revoked or replaced.

Closure of NSW/QLD Border to Greater Sydney COVID-19 Hotspot

30 Jul 2020

The Queensland government has announced that effective from 1am on Saturday 1 August, 2020 the NSW/QLD Border will be closed to persons travelling from what has been described as the “Greater Sydney” area.

Tightened restrictions for entry into NSW from Victoria

21 Jul 2020

Effective from midnight (tonight) on 21 July 2020, the New South Wales Government has created a border zone, being a clearly defined region along the Murray River which will further restrict the entry into New South Wales from Victoria. These restrictions are provided for by the Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Amendment Order 2020 (“the Amendment Order”), which amended the existing restrictions set out in the Public Health Order (COVID-19 Border Control) of 7th July 2020 (“PHO”).

COVID-19 Compliance Check

20 Jul 2020

The Motor Traders Association of New South Wales (MTA NSW) is aware that regulatory bodies including SafeWork NSW have started conducting workplace health and safety compliance checks for businesses, given the significant health and safety risks posed by COVID-19. These compliance checks are conducted under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), which impose a duty on business owners to eliminate and minimise risks to health and safety, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Mandatory Border Entry Permit for ‘Cross-Border’ Communities

09 Jul 2020

This update follows a previous communication sent to Members on Tuesday 7 July 2020, regarding the ‘Closure of the New South Wales/ Victorian border.’ If your customer(s) requires their vehicle(s) to be repaired or serviced, and you operate your business from a ‘cross-border community’ – e.g. Albury-Wodonga, Echuca-Moama, Swan Hill, Mildura and towns along the Murray River, a Border Entry Permit MUST be obtained for travel. Please find the link to the NSW Government Permit landing page as well as the Eligibility Criteria to obtain a Border Entry Permit.

COVIDSAFE APP – Privacy Act Changes

28 May 2020

On the 14th May 2020, the Federal Parliament passed a range of amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to facilitate the operation of the CovidSafe App (“the App”). These changes related to the collection of the personal information provided when people downloaded the App and protecting the usage and storage of this personal information.