Today, employer and union groups have made an urgent consent application to the Fair Work Commission that will make temporary amendments to the Clerks - Private Sector Award 2010 in response to the crisis facing Australian business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government is supporting small businesses to retain their apprentices and trainees. Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer. The wage subsidy will be claimable for wages paid since 1 January 2020.

At the AWISA Ltd board meeting on Friday 6 March the decision was made to postpone the AWISA exhibition planned for 1-4 July 2020.

This decision has not been taken lightly. It is not a panicked or hysterical reaction, but a business-like reaction to what is actually happening in other parts of the world, and to what is highly likely to happen in Australia.

Under the plan, NSW’s workers will be better protected by the introduction of on-thespot fines for those who engage in unsafe dry-cutting practices, the creation of a Silicosis Health Register and the introduction of a new workplace exposure standard from 1 July this year.

Salone del Mobile 2020, due to take place between 21 and 26 April has been rescheduled for 16 to 21 June 2020 due to the spread of coronavirus.

Contacts for emergency assistance and fact sheets on bushfire situation.

From 1 January 2020, salary sacrificed super contributions can't be used to reduce your super guarantee obligations, regardless of the amount your employee elects to salary sacrifice.

List of public holidays for each state and territory in 2020.

These holidays may be subject to change (including additional holidays) by proclamation or gazettal by the relevant state or territory government.

Queensland government passed legislation to establish a part-day public holiday on Christmas Eve, to commence from 24 December 2019.

Good news for NSW small businesses vying for valuable council contracts and local Councils who want to see their tenders land in local hands.