Page 3214 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 10 November 2021
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community organisations to meet higher wage costs following the recent Fair Work Commission decision to increase the national minimum wage and award wages by 2.5 per cent.
The ACT has the highest payroll tax threshold in the country, with payroll tax not being imposed in the ACT until an employer’s annual Australia-wide wages exceed $2 million. Community sector organisations will continue to be supported through payroll tax exemptions. Those that are charitable organisations, including those providing education at or below the secondary level of education, are exempt from payroll tax.
The current public health emergency has put greater strain on the financial situation of more Canberrans. As it did last year, the government provided additional support to those households most in need, including an additional $200 rebate to around 31,000 low income households who receive the utilities concession. This brought the total concession to $1,000 in 2021-22 and an ongoing $50 increase to the pensioner rates rebates.
A land tax credit of up to $100 per week will also be provided to residential landlords who provide rent relief between 1 August 2021 and 31 December 2021 to tenants impacted by COVID-19. This support uses the mechanisms available to the ACT government and complements the primary role of the commonwealth in providing income support, including temporary support through the COVID-19 disaster payment and its ongoing support through JobSeeker.
We acknowledge the impact that the pandemic has had on families. In addition to providing food vouchers for children, young people, carers and families engaging with Child and Youth Protection Services, food vouchers have also been provided to families engaging with child and family centres. Child and Youth Protection Services has done grocery shopping and provided additional support to children, young people, carers and families who have been required to quarantine or isolate due to testing positive for COVID-19 or for other reasons under the public health directions.
In addition, the social recovery team has assisted with taxi vouchers to enable safe transport of people and families out of quarantine and back to their homes. Support is first and foremost provided to ensure that the ACT’s children and young people are safe and aims to alleviate any additional pressure within the community sector. The ACT Hardship Fund has also been extended for 12 months to 30 June 2022 to ensure that Canberrans who are temporarily unable to work under a COVID-19 direction or health guidance are not left behind.
As we eventually transition through this crisis, and turn our minds to recovery, it is important that we learn lessons and seize new opportunities that have been presented. The ACT government had already been planning for some time to change the way it partners with non-government organisations in the health and community services sectors through a commissioning approach. Working in genuine partnership will help us to jointly address priorities, such as increasing our focus on early support and addressing sector sustainability.
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