The following notes have been taken from an Associations Forum Governance Webinar, held on 28 April 2020, Chaired by Kathy Nguyen, Associations Forum. When considering your options for AGMs, you must ensure there is a reasonable opportunity for members to participate ie. hear speakers, make comments, ask questions or vote. Your options include: Postponing the AGM Holding a virtual AGM

The Registered Organisations Commission (ROC) has released a guidance note to help organisations understand the…

UPDATE: JobKeeper payment plan is now open. Get started here. Australian Business Lawyers…

UPDATE: JobKeeper payment plan is now open. Get started here. Employers…

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), recently published information for small businesses

WHS laws still apply to businesses whose workers are required to work from home.  Employers must still ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers. The worker also has a responsibility to take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety, including complying with reasonable instructions given by the employer or…

The Registered Organisations Commission has acknowledged difficulties complying with COVID-19 obligations, including restrictions on gatherings and other social distancing measures, and has advised in relation to meetings held via telephone or online technology. The ROC has issued a guidance note to assist registered organisations who are experiencing this challenge. Click…

COVID-19 has meant that business-as-usual has changed, at least for the remainder of this year. If you have an association Plan that was developed more than 4 weeks ago, it is likely that the focus of your action plan will have dramatically changed. This is not to say that your whole strategic plan has necessarily changed but you must review it,…

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has highlighted the latest information on consumer rights, travel and event cancellations in relation to COVID-19. This can be of interest to associations and their members. Consumers are urged to remain patient, and where possible to contact the business or association by email or website, rather than by…

As COVID-19 devastates your members' businesses large and small, employers are being faced with a dreadful dilemma: should we cut hours, stand down staff or make people redundant?The reality is - no one wants to lay staff off. However, your desire to do the right thing and keep workers employed could backfire on you unless you are careful and get good advice pertinent to your particularly circumstances.Many employers believe that standing down employees is an easier or…

The association and not-for-profit sector has encountered a number of unforeseen issues since the greater impacts of coronavirus were felt globally. Along with mass redundancies across all sectors, many associations have been forced to cancel major conferences, meetings and events.  The following notes have been drafted by Matt Crouch Legal and cover a few considerations about the legal implications of event cancellations, which was discussed in a webinar with…

ATO has outlined upcoming cash flow boosts in response to the economic impact of coronavirus.  Your NFP is eligible if you: employ staff held an ABN on 12 March 2020 and continue to be active have an aggregate annual turnover of less than $50 million (generally based on prior year turnover) made eligible payments that you are required to withhold from (even if the amount you need to withhold is zero). Charities registered with the Australian…

Associations Forum has gathered a list of essential resources from various authorities that provide answers to frequently asked questions.  Australian workplace laws regarding coronavirus. Fairwork has issued a list of important Government information about coronavirus, the workplace and the obligations to employees under the Fair Work Act. This information is designed to help employers navigate the obligations during the coronavirus crisis and answer some of the frequently asked…

The Federal Government has announced measures regarding superannuation in order to provide further support to Australians who have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Early access to superannuation Usually, superannuation benefits can only be accessed once an individual meets a condition of release. The Government is temporarily allowing individuals affected by the Coronavirus early access of up to $10,000 from their superannuation balance for the 2019/2020…

UPDATE: Associations that are incorporated under the NSW Associations Incorporation Act that wish to postpone their AGM, or whose constitution does not provide for the holding of virtual AGMs can apply to NSW Fair Trading for an extension using Form A11. The fee will be waived. Click here to view.…

As part of a second stimulus package in response to the economic support through the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Federal Government has now included support for Australia's charity and not-for-profit sector. Below is a summary of measures included in the new plan: Support for Not-for-profits: Not-for-profits…

The Federal Government announced that directors would be exempt from personal liability for trading while insolvent for six months as part of its response to COVID-19. The economic impacts of the Coronavirus and health measures to prevent its spread could see many otherwise profitable and viable businesses temporarily face financial distress. It is important that these businesses have a safety net to make sure that when the crisis has passed they can resume normal business…

Nexia Australia has provided a comprehensive overview of the Federal Government Economic Stimulus Package, ATO's Administration Concessions, NSW Government Stimulus Package, Small Business Relief Package and more details surrounding these announcements.  By Nexia Australia. 

This detailed guide by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry covers how to manage your workplace during the COVID-19 outbreak. It covers the obligations an employer has to ensure a safe working environment, even when employees work from home and the legal requirements when scaling down operations.  Originally published by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.