TANYA PLIBERSEK MP

COVID-19 LHI UPDATE APRIL 2, 2020

If you are concerned about your SERVICES health, call your GP or the National Coronavirus TO THE ISLAND Health Information As part of its COVID-19 response, on Hotline on 1800 020 Friday 20 March the NSW Government 080 for advice. The line issued a Public Health Order (the operates 24 hours a day, + Order) which prohibits the entry of seven days a week. non-residents to Lord Howe Island for a period of 90 days, and for all existing GROCERY DELIVERIES non-residents, tourists and the like to I was recently contacted by a constituent depart the island as soon was possible. asking whether each of the supermarkets The Order includes exemptions for that make grocery deliveries to the Island persons required to provide, or support, would make exceptions to the restrictions health services and other essential on the purchase of certain items. There services for Islanders. were specific concerns about long life milk. The Order came into effect on Sunday I have raised this directly with Woolworths, 22 March at 05:00. Coles and IGA and am hoping for an Qantas worked closely with the NSW easing of restrictions on essential items for Government on Friday to ensure they Islanders. I will update you on the progress had the necessary arrangements in place of this issue. for the Order’s implementation. These included: HERE TO HELP „ Enough flights and seats to allow tourists and non-Island residents to As your local representative, I can assist depart (around 400 at the time of with enquiries or problems you have with the issuing of the Order); Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, „ Flexibility for passengers to cancel superannuation, Child Support payments, bookings, including so those on the Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Island could return home as soon as Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the possible; and National Disability Insurance Scheme „ An agreement to operate one return (NDIS), the National Broadband Network service per week between (NBN), universities, employment, training, and Lord Howe Island (Tuesdays) for Commonwealth funding and grants. the duration of the Order.

TANYA PLIBERSEK MP 02 APRIL 2020 LHI UPDATE TanyaPlibersek.com [email protected] 02 9379 0700 + If you have concerns National Coronavirus Helpline For the latest information: about your health, seek 1800 020 080 health.gov.au to medical advice. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. health.nsw.gov.au

CENTRELINK INFORMATION

There are new rules to make it much easier to access COVID-19 JobSeeker Payment. All people need to do is make a declaration that their business has been suspended or SUPPORT that their turnover has significantly reduced because of the Coronavirus downturn. The normal JobSeeker FINANCIAL Payment income tests will apply. It doesn’t matter what their income was last week, or last month, just what it is If you’ve lost your job, lost hours, currently. or are suffering financial hardship, find out what support is available, The easiest way to register for JobSeeker allowance is including wage subsidies: to go online to www.my.gov.au, log in to your myGov www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus account, and register an intent to claim. It takes two clicks to lodge, provided you already have a myGov BUSINESSES & SOLE TRADERS account. You will then be contacted by a Centrelink worker either by phone or email to ask for any additional If you’re a business or a sole trader, information they may require to progress your claim. find out what support is available at www.business.gov.au or 13 28 46. If the website isn’t working you can try calling Centrelink on 13 28 50 but the phone lines may have significant SMALL BUSINESS delays on them. If you are a small business, you You do not need an existing myGov account. Anyone can find out more information with a current email address and mobile number can about the support being offered: register for myGov. Once you’re registered, you will need www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus to link at least one service to access the intent to claim home screen. We recommend linking ATO or Medicare as RENTERS the primary service first, as, for most people, a CRN from Centrelink is required to link the online Centrelink service. The National Cabinet has agreed CRNs can only be obtained over the phone or in person, to ban evictions over the next which will cause additional delays. six months for commercial and residential tenants in financial You also do not need an existing CRN. You can now distress who are unable to meet lodge an intent to claim online without a CRN. A their commitments due to the member of Centrelink will then contact you by email impact of coronavirus. or phone to get any further information they need to process your claim. This will include an identity check For help: NSW Fair Trading at over the phone to obtain a CRN if you don’t have one. But www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or if you’ve lodged an intent to claim earlier, your payments 13 32 20 or the Tenants Advice and will be backdated to Monday 23 March. You can also find Advocacy Service at tenants.org.au out more about changes to social security and accessing or 02 8117 3700. Centrelink at www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

If you need further assistance, please call my office on 9379 0700 or email me: [email protected]

Authorised by Tanya Plibersek MP, , 1A Great Buckingham St, Redfern