THE Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has indicated its strong support for the Federal Government’s contact tracing app, designed to digitally alert Australians of nearby COVID-19 infections.

As the peak industry body for innovation technology in Australia, the AIIA was given an exclusive briefing on Monday by the Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert, Digital Transformation Agency CEO Randall Brugeaud, and head of Australian Cyber Security Centre, Abi Bradshaw and others, on the technology behind the tracing app and the cyber security protections built into it. 

Commenting on the detailed briefing of the app, AIIA CEO, Ron Gauci said, “AIIA thanks Minister Robert, Mr Brugeaud and Ms Bradshaw for their detailed briefings and assurances provided to members today.

“Cyber security and online personal privacy is of paramount importance to all Australians and so is the health and safety of its citizens. Based on this detailed briefing and understanding that the app does not track your geo-location and that personal data and cyber security concerns have been designed into the app and through government regulations, the AIIA therefore supports the government tracing app and strongly recommends that all Australians download it.

“By encouraging all Australians to engage with the app, we can support state health contact tracing teams to help identify community clusters and secondary spread of the COVID-19 now we have flattened the curve. This data will be able to give the government more confidence in considering relaxing of quarantine measures,” Mr Gauci said.

The government tracing app is available to download for free on the app stores.

Using Bluetooth, the app interacts with other app users within a certain distance, sending key codes anonymously. When users test positive for COVID-19, they update their status on the app - thereafter, the app will alert all users that the infectee had interacted with in the past 14 days to self-isolate and test for COVID-19.

Speaking of the digital advancement of medical containment, Deloitte Australia chief strategy and innovation officer, and chair of the AIIA Robert Hillard said,  “In the absence of a medical vaccine, you could think about contact tracing as a digital vaccine with our contact data being the virtual antibodies.”

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is concerned by reports many small businesses may not be applying for the JobKeeper payment because they can’t pay staff by April 30.

“Small businesses that believe they are eligible to apply for JobKeeper really must do so quickly,” Ms Carnell said.

“There have been reports that some small businesses, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors, have not applied for JobKeeper because they cannot pay $1,500 for each eligible staff member per fortnight.

“The big four banks have established JobKeeper help lines that are dedicated to this issue alone. There are lines of credit that are readily available so that you can pay your staff in the lead up to the initial payment from the ATO at the start of May, which will be a month in arrears.

“The banks are promising to fast-track these applications, so you can get the necessary funds you need to pay your staff," Ms Carnell said.

“It’s especially critical that small businesses that are struggling to pay their rent apply for the JobKeeper payment for their staff because you are only covered by the Mandatory Commercial Tenancy Code of Conduct if you are using JobKeeper. This may be essential to your business’ survival.

“Above all, we want to see small business survive this difficult time, so they can thrive on the other side. JobKeeper provides the practical financial support small businesses need as we wait for this health crisis to pass.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell has welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to appoint a temporary Small Business Commissioner.

The new role, to be taken up by the current Queensland Small Business Champion Maree Adshead, will give small businesses a single point of contact for commercial leasing disputes, many of which have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

“Maree has done fantastic work as the Queensland Small Business Champion and she’s certainly the right person for this important job,” Ms Carnell said.

“Many small businesses are reaching out for assistance with disputes over commercial lease arrangements because of the financial hardship they are experiencing during this difficult time.

“By creating this role, small businesses in Queensland will have the support they need to negotiate a fair outcome with their landlord, under the guidance of the Mandatory Commercial Tenancy Code of Conduct.

“It’s vital, especially in this time of crisis, there is a full-time small business commissioner with the necessary powers to meet the needs of small businesses.

“Alternative dispute resolution is far more cost-effective, time and resource-saving for small businesses than the court system, so I would encourage Queensland small businesses to access these free services if they need to," Ms Carnell said.

“While this Small Business Commissioner role is only temporarily in place for the remainder of the year, my office believes there is good reason to make this an ongoing service to the small business community in Queensland.

“In the meantime, we congratulate Maree Adshead on taking this role in the interim.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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TENANTS Queensland (TQ) has welcomed the release of regulations governing COVID affected tenancies, bringing clarity and relief to many but says it was a ‘missed opportunity’ at the same time.

TQ CEO Penny Carr said protecting renters in rent arrears from eviction is a very positive step and the clear process for resolving rent disputes will help landlords and tenants alike navigate the challenges.

The inclusion of rooming accommodation residents in protections is also well received. However, the organisation believes the Queensland Government missed an opportunity to fully protect tenants from rogue agents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In instances where negotiation fails, rent disputes may be drawn out while rent debts mount, and ending tenancies for hardship will become more difficult," Ms Carr said.

“The new criteria set for tenants to immediately end tenancies is so stringent that few, if any, will be able to use it, while the usual process of pleading an early end to the tenancy for hardship has been extended,” she said.

“In contrast, landlords’ hardship applications will still proceed straight to QCAT and landlords will have a range of new grounds with which to evict renters. These include telling a tenant to leave during a fixed-term agreement because the landlord wants to prepare the place for sale.

“For the lessor to simply say end an agreement to prepare the place for sale, despite the tenant having a fixed-term agreement, is unreasonable and brings greater instability to people’s tenancies.

“This is disappointing. The legislation was meant to protect tenants from rogue agents but now has the potential to create more movement during a public health crisis.”

Ms Carr, who heads the state’s leading tenant advisory service, said her organisation was receiving hundreds of calls from renters seeking clarification about whether they will get a rent reductions or if they can leave quickly so they don’t’ rack up a rent debt.

Ms Carr said she welcomed the opportunity to have oversight of the new laws as part of the Ministerial Housing Council’s Housing Security Sub-committee and looks forward to working with the government to monitor the situation.

About Tenants Queensland

Tenants Queensland (TQ) is a specialist community legal centre that provides a free advice and referral service for residential tenants in Queensland through its flagship QSTARS program. TQ aims to protect and improve the rights of residential tenants in Queensland, particularly those who are economically or socially disadvantaged.   www.tenantsqld.gov.au.

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