Following the recent introduction of further COVID19 restrictions in Victoria and extensive lobbying from the VACC, MTAA, ACCI and others, the Australian Government has announced that the JobKeeper Payment arrangements have been amended.
The reference date for assessing which employees are eligible for the JobKeeper Payment has changed from 1 March to 1 July 2020, effective from 3 August 2020. This means that employees employed during this period, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, are now eligible employees for qualifying employers under the JobKeeper Scheme.
In addition, the employer eligibility requirements post-27 September 2020 have also changed.
The CEO of VACC’s national body, the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), Richard Dudley, has thanked the Chamber for its leading part in bringing about important changes to JobKeeper 2.0 eligibility, meaning many more people employed in the automotive industry will now have a financial lifeline into the future.
This is especially welcome news during metropolitan Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions and its many business ‘hibernations’.
Mr Dudley singled out VACC’s Victorian Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) members for the highly valued information they provided through a VACC survey. This information provided the much needed granular detail - and evidence - to influence Treasury to amend eligibility criteria.
Mr Dudley said JobKeeper 2.0 was “an extremely important ongoing assistance initiative for Australian automotive small businesses. For many, it is the difference between staying open or closing the doors for good.”
ENDS