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Ray Breslin • Apr 03, 2020
Australian Government: 'Expect this for at least 6 months' - Latest Updates on Rent Payment & Easter Holidays
During the National Cabinet meeting today, the Australian Government met to discuss the steps to take in order to contain the virus. They've provided an update on rental payments and what your rights are during this pandemic.
Topics:
- Coronavirus cases in Australia
- Places of worship updates
- Update on Easter holiday
- Rent agreement on commercial tenants
Australian governments met today (3rd April) at the national cabinet meeting to discuss what steps they should take to help stop the spread of this outbreak.
The Prime Minister predicts we will be living with this virus for at least 6 months.
Therefore, strongly urging everyone to stay home unless it's an absolute necessity to go out (list of exceptions). Here's a summary and simplified version of the things you can expect over the next 6 months.
Coronavirus Cases in Australia Today
As of Saturday 4th April - 05:00am we have:
- Cases confirmed: 5,358
- Recovered: 636
- Deaths: 28
- Cases per million: 234.09
There have been more than 240,000 coronavirus tests
completed so far.
"It is clear the epidemiology curve is beginning to flatten. But it is too early to determine whether such movements will be significant or sustained.
Leaders thanked all Australians who have acted responsibly towards their fellow Australians and have been undertaking social distancing and isolation measures.
These measures are helping to slow the spread of the virus, ensure the strength of our health system and save lives.
National Cabinet stressed the critical importance of continuing to adhere to self-isolation, social distancing and quarantine arrangements for returned travellers. Leaders also highlight the importance of people who are self-isolating registering on the COVID-19 app.
National Cabinet noted that Australia was now in the suppression phase of the response, which will last for some time. Restrictions will be reviewed regularly and planning for the medium to long-term has begun.
Governments are working together to increase supplies of personal protective equipment such as masks, hand sanitiser and gloves. New supplies for the National Medical Stockpile are continuing to be sourced from overseas suppliers and domestic manufacturers.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Commonwealth Treasury also provided an overview of the economic outlook and the medium and longer term financial risks.
National Cabinet agreed to meet again on Tuesday 7 April 2020."
- Prime Minister of Australia
Religious Services
Churches and other places of worship, will be considered places of work so that services can be live streamed
to the community.
This will ensure that religious services, including Easter services, remain accessible to congregations. National Cabinet agreed that providing access to services is important for a sense of continuity and social connection.
Services may be conducted
and live streamed providing only essential staff are present, the venue/facility remains closed to the public, and social distancing principles are adhered to.
Any church wishing to conduct religious services, including Easter services, must use the minimum number
of participants required to deliver and live stream the service, which may include a priest, attendants, organist, videographer and sound recordist.
Easter Holiday & Long Weekend
Social distancing is slowing the spread of the virus in Australia. These measures are saving lives and livelihoods.
National Cabinet reminded Australians that social distancing must continue at Easter
and agreed that Australians should stay at home this Easter
and not undertake unnecessary holiday travel.
Commercial Tenancies
National Cabinet made further progress on the issue of commercial tenancies.
They have agreed that a mandatory code of conduct guided by certain principles will be developed and subsequently legislated by State and Territory Governments to apply for tenancies where the tenant is eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper assistance
and is a small- or medium-sized enterprise (less than $50 million turnover).
The principles that guide the code will be:
- Where it can, rent should continue to be paid, and where there is financial distress as a result of COVID-19 (for example, the tenant is eligible for assistance through the JobKeeper program), tenants and landlords should negotiate a mutually agreed outcome
- There will be a proportionality to rent reductions based on the decline in turnover to ensure that the burden is shared between landlords and tenants
- There will be a prohibition on termination of leases for non-payment of rent (lockouts and eviction)
- There will be a freeze on rent increases (except for turnover leases)
- There will be a prohibition on penalties for tenants who stop trading or reduce opening hours
- There will be a prohibition on landlords passing land tax to tenants (if not already legislated)
- There will be a prohibition on landlords charging interest on unpaid rent
- There will be a prohibition on landlords from making a claim to a bank guarantee or security deposit for non-payment of rent
- Ensure that any legislative barriers or administrative hurdles to lease extensions are removed (so that a tenant and landlord could agree a rent waiver in return for a lease extension)
For landlords and tenants that sign up to the code of conduct, States and Territories have agreed to look at providing the equivalent of at least a three month land tax waiver
and three month land tax deferral on application for eligible landowners, with jurisdictions to continue to monitor the situation.
Landlords must
pass on the benefits of such moves to the tenants.
In cases where parties have signed to the code of conduct, the ability for tenants to terminate leases as mentioned in the National Cabinet Statement on 29 March 2020 will not apply. Mediation will be provided as needed through existing State and Territory mechanisms.
The proposed code of conduct will be discussed at the next meeting of the National Cabinet on Tuesday 7 April.
Source: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-030420
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