The Federal Government yesterday passed legislation to provide
for its new $1,500 JobKeeper payment scheme.
The Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and
Benefits) Act 2020, sets out the framework for the scheme,
including requirements around record keeping by employers and
liability for overpayments. The legislation imposes civil penalties
of up to 600 penalty units ($126,000) for employers that breach
JobKeeper requirements, e.g. failing to pass on the full $1500
payment.
Unhelpfully, the details of the scheme, including eligibility
requirements and conditions, are yet to be decided upon and will
form part of new 'Rules', which have not yet been
published.
The Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures
No. 2) Act 2020, which relevantly amends the Fair Work Act
2009 (Cth), prescribes a range of economic response measures
that will apply until 28 September 2020.
