Stonefruit Registrations for China, Taiwan and Thailand close at 5pm on Monday 19th July 2021.

• Applications are now open for farms and packhouses intending to export summerfruit to China, Taiwan and Thailand for the 2021–22 season.
• Summerfruit farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to China, Taiwan and Thailand can complete their application forms through the Summerfruit Australia export registration system by 5pm AEST, Monday 19 July 2021.
• All information in the application (for example, ABN numbers, contact details, accredited property maps and addresses) must be complete and correct or the application may not be accepted.
• Farms and packhouses will be subject to audits by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
• Crop monitor training and assessment for summerfruit is now available through the online eLearning hub.

Visit the Department of Ag, Water and the Environment website for more information.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 8 July 2021, if you live in Victoria: 

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• There are no limits on the distance you can travel.
• Face masks are mandatory indoors unless an exception applies, or you are:
  • at home
  • at work, if a member of the public isn’t present and you are in an area that members of the public can’t normally access (such as an office space or a factory)
  • a staff member at a school, childcare or early childhood service, and a member of the public isn’t present (apart from at reception, where masks are always required)
  • a student at school
• Face masks are recommended outdoors where you cannot maintain 1.5 metres from others.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Check-in everywhere you visit using https://service.vic.gov.au/check-in">the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Visit the Coronavirus website for further information regarding Victoria restrictions.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021, if you live in metropolitan Melbourne: 

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• There are no limits on the distance you can travel, and you can travel to regional Victoria.
• You can travel to Victoria’s Alpine Resorts. It is recommended that all visitors have a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departing Melbourne and receive a negative test (children under 12 years not included) before arriving in the Alpine region.
• You can have up to 15 people visit your home per day (cap includes dependants other than infants under 12 months).
• Patients at hospitals and care facilities can have two visitors at a time and up to five visitors per day. End of life patients can have two visitors at a time and there is no total limit per day.
• Face masks are mandatory indoors, except at your home or if a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks are recommended outdoors where you cannot maintain 1.5 metres from others.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Check-in everywhere you visit using https://service.vic.gov.au/check-in">the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on current Metro Melbourne restrictions.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021, if you live in regional Victoria:

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• There are no restrictions on travelling to metropolitan Melbourne.
• You can have up to 15 people visit your home per day (cap includes dependants other than infants under 12 months).
• Patients at hospitals and care facilities can have two visitors at a time and up to five visitors per day. End of life patients can have two visitors at a time and there is no total limit per day.
• Eased density limits apply at restaurants, venues, community and sporting facilities and other locations when a COVID Check-In Marshal is present.
• Face masks are mandatory indoors, except at your home or if a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks are recommended outdoors where you cannot maintain 1.5m from others.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Check-in everywhere you visit using https://service.vic.gov.au/check-in">the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on current Regional Victoria restrictions.

Is your organisation ready for the super guarantee rate rise?
On 1 July 2021, the super guarantee rate will rise from 9.5% to 10%. If you have employees, you will need to ensure your payroll and accounting systems are updated to incorporate the increase to the super rate.

If you need help to work out how much super you need to pay for your employees after the rate increases, you can use our super guarantee contributions calculator. For salary and wage payments made on or after 1 July 2021, the minimum superannuation guarantee contribution rate of 10% will need to be applied.

The super rate is scheduled to progressively increase to 12% by July 2025. You can find the scheduled rate increases and dates on our website. Visit the ATO website for more information.

Changes to STP reporting from 1 July
Employers should be reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP) unless they only have closely held payees, or they are covered by a deferral or exemption. There are changes to STP reporting for small employers with closely held payees and quarterly reporting for micro employers from 1 July 2021. This may affect how you report to us. Visit the ATO website for more information on STP reporting changes.

Visit the ATO website for more information.

Following the Annual Wage Review 2021, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 2.5% increase to the national minimum wage. This will also apply to all award wages, with the award increase happening in 3 different stages.

The new national minimum wage will apply from your first full pay period on or after 1 July 2021. This means if you have a weekly pay period that starts on Mondays, the new rates will apply from Monday 5 July 2021.

Visit the FWO website for more information.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021, if you live in metropolitan Melbourne: 

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• There are no limits on the distance you can travel, and you can travel to regional Victoria.
• You can travel to Victoria’s Alpine Resorts. It is recommended that all visitors have a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departing Melbourne and receive a negative test (children under 12 years not included) before arriving in the Alpine region.
• You can have up to 15 people visit your home per day (cap includes dependants other than infants under 12 months).
• Patients at hospitals and care facilities can have two visitors at a time and up to five visitors per day. End of life patients can have two visitors at a time and there is no total limit per day.
• Face masks are mandatory indoors, except at your home or if a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks are recommended outdoors where you cannot maintain 1.5 metres from others.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Check-in everywhere you visit using the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021, if you live in regional Victoria:

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• There are no restrictions on travelling to metropolitan Melbourne. &
• You can have up to 15 people visit your home per day (cap includes dependants other than infants under 12 months).
• Patients at hospitals and care facilities can have two visitors at a time and up to five visitors per day. End of life patients can have two visitors at a time and there is no total limit per day.
• Eased density limits apply at restaurants, venues, community and sporting facilities and other locations when a COVID Check-In Marshal is present.
• Face masks are mandatory indoors, except at your home or if a lawful exception applies.&
• Face masks are recommended outdoors where you cannot maintain 1.5m from others.
• If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, you should get tested for COVID-19.
• Check-in everywhere you visit using the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on these restrictions.

Source: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au