Dear Resident of the Berowra Electorate,

I know lockdowns can be a stressful time. They bring with them many challenges such as juggling children and working from home—made more difficult by inadequate telecommunications. I also know many people are dealing with the disappointment of a much-needed cancelled holiday.

During this time our community is also trying to navigate the restrictions and other provisions that have been put into place by governments provide support and keep us safe.

This newsletter will help you navigate:

  • financial assistance available to individuals and businesses
  • helpful links to information on lockdown restrictions, case locations and COVID-19 testing clinics
  • the vaccine rollout
  • key measures implemented on 1 July to help individuals and businesses over the coming year.

My team and I are still working hard to respond to your phone calls and emails however due to the NSW Public Health Order, my electorate office in Pennant Hills is now closed to visitors. We can be contacted at Julian.leeser.mp@aph.gov.au or (02) 9980 1822.

I know this is a difficult time for many and I would remind you to check in on each other. Should you, or someone you know needs mental health support, there are crisis care services available:

  • Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
  • 1800 Respect 1800 737 732
  • Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
  • Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467
  • Headspace 1800 650 890

Please feel welcome to share this newsletter with others who may be interested. Anyone who wants to be added to the newsletter distribution list should email julian.leeser.mp@aph.gov.au.
 
Julian Leeser

 

Are your telecommunications better or worse this lockdown?

I know telecommunications issues will be heightened again by stay-at-home orders as we all try to work from home during this time. I would like to hear from you if your telecommunications have not improved since the lockdowns last year, or if they are worse. Please contact me with a story of what you have had to do to make working from home work this time.

In the coming weeks I will be introducing a Private Members' Bill to the Parliament to address many of the issues our community faces with services from Telstra and other telecommunications companies. These stories help me to continue to make a case for fixing the appalling services from telecommunications companies and introduce more long-term solutions.

Numerous residents in the electorate have also contacted me about news that NBN delivery in some areas is being delayed AGAIN. This is not the first time with a number of areas being subject to constant delays to the rollout or unsatisfactory service delivery. I will be writing to the CEO of NBN this week and demanding action. This is not good enough. NBN is fast becoming the new Telstra.
 

 

 

Financial Assistance available for individuals and businesses

Assistance for individuals from the Commonwealth Government
For many, this lockdown will be a difficult time financially. Commonwealth support will soon be available to those who will lose work because of the stay-at-home orders.

The COVID-19 Disaster Payment for Greater Sydney LGAs will become available on 4th July 2021 for eligible people in these areas.

This payment is for people who reside or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot and can’t attend work as a result of state imposed health restrictions lasting greater than one week.

Eligible people will receive $500 if they’ve lost 20 hours or more of work, and $325 if they’ve lost less than 20 hours of work. They must not have liquid assets of more than $10,000 or be in receipt of other payments.

For those who work or live in the original 7 LGAs that were declared on the 23rd June 2021, City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, Woollahra, COVID-19 Disaster Payments have now been available since the 1st July 2021.

Further information will be made available when this payment comes into effect. There is no need to contact Services Australia at this time.

Other payments that may be available to eligible people from Services Australia include Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment and JobSeeker Payment.

For more information and to check your eligibility for payments, visit: 

 

Financial assistance available to individuals

 

Business assistance from the NSW Government
The NSW Government announced a new package on Tuesday to assist businesses during the lockdown. The package includes grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 for small businesses, payroll tax deferrals for all employers, an extension of the Dine & Discover program to 31 August and the ability for people to use Dine & Discover vouchers for takeaway delivered directly to their home by the venue itself.

The NSW Treasurer's announcement can be found here: 

 

Announcement from the NSW Government

 

For more information and to access support, businesses can visit:

 

Help available for small businesses

 

 

Helpful COVID-19 links

The latest information on NSW case locations and other COVID-19 alerts, can be found here: Latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW - COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The latest NSW public health orders and restrictions can be found here: Public Health Orders and restrictions - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) (nsw.gov.au)

For your nearest COVID-19 testing clinics visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics

 

 

Vaccine Rollout Update

More than 7.8 million doses of vaccines have been provided to Australians to date, on average a further 1 million vaccine doses are being administered every 9 days. 

What this means:
•       More than two thirds of over 70s are protected with a first dose (69.6 per cent)
•       More than half of over 50s are protected with a first dose (52.4 per cent)
•       More than a quarter of the eligible population aged over 16 are protected with a first dose (29.6 per cent)
•    Almost 8 per cent of eligible Australians over 16 are now fully vaccinated.

All Residential Aged Care Facility residents in the Berowra electorate are now fully vaccinated, with the exceptions of residents who have missed out on their second dose because of illness or other reasons, with procedures in place to catch-up missed doses and to ensure new residents receive their vaccination.

I have moved my vaccination forward to enable me to get the vaccine sooner and if you are eligible I would recommend you seek to book your vaccination as soon as possible. If you are concerned about getting vaccinated you should consult with your GP.

To check your eligibility and to book a vaccination go to:

 

Vaccine Eligibility Checker

 

 

Lowering Taxes and Creating Jobs this Financial Year: Key Measures Implemented on 1 July

The Morrison Government is continuing to secure Australia’s recovery from COVID-19 with key measures taking effect on 1 July 2021 to create more jobs, rebuild our economy and set Australia up for the future.

These measures will provide tax relief to millions of hard-working Australians, incentivise businesses to invest and ensure our superannuation system works harder for you.

Retaining the low-and middle-income tax offset
Further personal income tax cuts worth up to $1,080 for individuals or up to $2,160 for couples will support more than 10 million low and middle income earners. This is more money to spend in local businesses, giving them the confidence to take on an extra worker, offer an extra shift or buy a new piece of equipment.

Providing tax incentives for businesses
Extending the temporary full expensing and temporary loss carry-back measures beyond this financial year will allow more than 99 per cent of businesses employing 11.5 million Australians to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets of any value in the year they are installed until 30 June 2023.

These measures are estimated to boost GDP by around $7.5 billion in 2021/22 alone and create around 60,000 jobs by the end of 2022/23.

Cutting taxes for small and medium businesses
The tax rate for small and medium companies with turnover below $50 million will decrease from 26 per cent to 25 per cent. For unincorporated small business such as sole traders, the tax discount rate will increase from 13 per cent to 16 per cent (up to the existing cap of $1,000). Access to a range of small business tax concessions will also be expanded with the turnover threshold rising from $10 million to $50 million, providing tax relief and reducing red tape for eligible businesses.

Supporting business research and development
Reforms to the Research and Development Tax Incentive take effect from 1 July. This includes generous tax offset rates above the company tax rate and includes an intensity test to reward companies that commit a greater proportion of their expenditure to R&D. In addition, the cap on eligible R&D expenditure will rise from $100 million to $150 million per annum.

Providing tax relief for small brewers and distillers
As announced in the 2021/22 Budget, the Excise remission scheme for alcohol manufacturers will provide brewers and distillers a full remission of any excise they pay, up to an annual cap of $350,000.

Exempting granny flat arrangements from capital gains tax (CGT)
Older and disabled Australians and their families will be provided with a targeted CGT exemption for granny flat arrangements. From 1 July, CGT will not apply to the creation, variation or termination of formal written granny flat arrangements providing accommodation for older Australians or people with disabilities.

This change removes the CGT impediments to families entering into legally enforceable granny flat arrangements, reducing the risk of financial abuse to vulnerable Australians.

Supporting first home buyers and single parent families
An additional 30,000 places are now available to eligible applicants under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, the New Home Guarantee program, and the Family Home Guarantee.

As announced in the 2021-22 Budget, the Government will establish the Family Home Guarantee to support single parents with dependants. From 1 July, 10,000 guarantees will be made available to eligible single parent families to build a new home or purchase an existing home with a deposit of as little as 2 per cent.

The Government will also extend the New Home Guarantee for a second year, providing an additional 10,000 places in 2021-22 for first homebuyers seeking to build a new home or purchase a newly built home with a deposit of 5 per cent.

Making superannuation work harder for Australians
As part of the most significant changes to superannuation in nearly 30 years, the Government is holding underperforming funds to account and strengthening protections for the retirement savings of millions of Australians.

The Government will require superannuation products to meet an annual objective performance test. Funds with products that fail the test will be required to inform members, while persistently underperforming products will be prevented from taking on new members. Members will be notified by 1 October 2021 if their product fails this test.

Australians will also have access to a single, trusted and independent source of information to compare superannuation products through a new interactive online YourSuper comparison tool from 1 July. In addition, trustees will be required to demonstrate how their actions are in the best financial interest of members.

The Your Future, Your Super reforms are estimated to save Australian workers $17.9 billion over 10 years.

Increasing flexibility for self-managed superannuation funds
The Government is providing Australians with more flexibility and control in managing their retirement savings. From 1 July, the maximum number of allowable members in self-managed superannuation funds and small APRA funds will increase from four to six.

Extending the temporary reduction in superannuation minimum drawdown rates
As part of the Government’s COVID-19 response, the superannuation minimum drawdown rates were reduced by 50 per cent for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 income years. To further support retirees and provide extra flexibility, the Government has recently extended the temporary reduction to the 2021/22 income year.