mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus and changes to bankruptcy laws
Important information for practitioners
Guidelines for debt agreement administrators
We have made important temporary updates to the certified duties of debt
agreement administrators, regarding proposals to vary debt agreements. These
changes are currently in affect for six months (until 30 September 2020).
For more information about these changes see Practitioners: COVID-19 and
changes to debt agreements.
For updated general guidelines for practitioners, including debtors in arrears
notifications see Practitioners: COVID-19 and updated advice from the
Inspector-General.
Guidelines for trustees
General guidelines are now available for trustees regarding COVID-19 and its
effect on our stakeholders. This includes information about Official Receiver
services, meetings of creditors and statutory returns.
For more information see Practitioners: COVID-19 and updated advice from the
Inspector-General.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
Online shopping scams
Scammers have created fake online stores claiming to sell products that don’t
exist — such as cures or vaccinations for COVID-19, and products such as face
masks.
Tips to protect yourself from these types of scams:

The best way to detect a fake trader or social media shopping scam is to search for reviews before purchasing. No vaccine or cure presently exists for the coronavirus.
Be wary of sellers requesting unusual payment methods such as upfront payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, preloaded card or electronic currency, like Bitcoin.
More information is available at: Online shopping scams.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
Superannuation scams
Scammers are taking advantage of people in financial hardship due to COVID-19
by attempting to steal their superannuation or by offering unnecessary
services and charging a fee.
The majority of these scams start with an unexpected call claiming to be from
a superannuation or financial service.
The scammers use a variety of excuses to request information about your
superannuation accounts, including:

offering to help you access the money in your superannuation
ensuring you’re not locked out of your account under new rules.
checking whether your superannuation account is eligible for various benefits or deals.

Example of a superannuation scam
A scammer will call pretending to be from a superannuation or financial
service. They may refer to the government’s superannuation early release
measures, and ask questions such as:

Have you worked full time for the last 5 years? 
Are you going to apply for the $10 000 superannuation package?

Or falsely claim:

Inactive super accounts will be locked if not merged immediately.

Superannuation early-access scams
Many Australians are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 22 March, the Australian Government announced eligible individuals would be
allowed early access to their superannuation. Scammers are taking advantage of
the government’s early-release measures in a variety of phishing scams
designed to steal your superannuation.
For more information, see our Superannuation early-access scams fact
sheet.
Tips to protect yourself from these types of scams:

Never give any information about your superannuation to someone who has contacted you — this includes offers to help you access your superannuation early under the government’s new arrangements.
Hang up and verify their identity by calling the relevant organisation directly — find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.
See our Scamwatch media release warning about superannuation scams.
For more information on superannuation scams visit ASIC’s MoneySmart website.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
Phishing – Government impersonation scams
Scammers are pretending to be government agencies providing information on
COVID-19 through text messages and emails ‘phishing’ for your information.
These contain malicious links and attachments designed to steal your personal
and financial information.
In the examples below the text messages appear to come from ‘GOV’ and ‘myGov’,
with a malicious link to more information on COVID-19.
Scammers are also pretending to be Government agencies and other entities
offering to help you with applications for financial assistance or payments
for staying home.
Tips to protect yourself from these types of scams:


Don’t click on hyperlinks in text/social media messages or emails, even if it appears to come from a trusted source.


Go directly to the website through your browser. For example, to reach the MyGov website type ‘my.gov.au’ into your browser yourself.

Never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details, even if they claim to be a from a reputable organisation or government authority — just press delete or hang up.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
How you can help others
You can help others by talking and sharing information about scams when
connecting with your friends, family and colleagues.
Ask the businesses you connect with regularly about scams they see, how they
can protect you and how you can protect yourself.
If you use social media or particular applications — learn how to report scams
to them and choose services that will identify and remove scammers from their
platform or website.
Ask your bank or financial institution about how to protect your financial
information and how they will help you if you get scammed.
Government, law enforcement, individuals and businesses all play an important
role in helping to protect the community from scams.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
How scammers contact you
During a crisis like COVID-19, you may be isolated and using online services
more than ever, so it is important to think about who might be really
contacting you. They may find you by:

calling you or coming to your door
contacting you via social media, email or text message
setting up websites that look real, and impersonating government, business or even your friends
collecting information about you so that when they make contact they are more convincing.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
Scams targeting businesses
Scammers are using COVID-19 in business email compromise scams by pretending
to be a supplier or business you usually deal with.
Scammers are using COVID-19 as an excuse to divert your usual account payments
to a different bank account. Your payment goes to the scammer instead of the
real business.
Tips to protect yourself from these types of scams:

Verify any request to change bank details by contacting the supplier directly using trusted contact details you have previously used.
Consider a multi-person approval process for transactions over a certain dollar amount, with processes in place to ensure the business billing you is the one you normally deal with.
Keep the security on your network and devices up-to-date, and have a good firewall to protect your data.

Businesses can also sign up to the ACCC’s Small Business Information
Network to receive emails about new or updated resources,
enforcement action, changes to Australia’s competition and consumer laws,
events, surveys and scams relevant to the small business sector.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
About COVID-19 scams
Scamwatch has received over 2700 scam reports mentioning the coronavirus with
over $1 114 000 in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19
(coronavirus). Common scams include phishing for personal information, online
shopping, and superannuation scams.
If you have been scammed or have seen a scam, you can make a report on the Scamwatch website, and find more information about where to
get help.
Scamwatch urges everyone to be cautious and remain alert to coronavirus-
related scams. Scammers are hoping that you have let your guard down. Do not
provide your personal, banking or superannuation details to strangers who have
approached you.
Scammers may pretend to have a connection with you. So it’s important to stop
and check, even when you are approached by what you think is a trusted
organisation.
Visit the Scamwatch news webpage for general warnings and media
releases on COVID-19 scams.
Below are some examples of what to look out for.
These are a few examples, but there are many more. If your experience does not
match any of the examples provided, it could still be a scam. If you have any
doubts at all, don’t proceed.
Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
Phishing – Other impersonation scams
Scammers are pretending to be from real and well known businesses such as
banks, travel agents, insurance providers and telco companies, and using
various excuses around COVID-19 to:

ask for your personal and financial information
lure you into opening malicious links or attachments
gain remote access to your computer
seek payment for a fake service or something you did not purchase.

Tips to protect yourself from these types of scams:

Don’t click on hyperlinks in text/social media messages or emails, even if they appear to come from a trusted source.
Never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for personal or financial details — just press delete or hang up.
Never provide a stranger remote access to your computer, even if they claim to be from a telco company such as Telstra or the NBN Co.
To verify the legitimacy of a contact, find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.
Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package
On 2 April 2020, the Australian
Government announced the new Early Childhood Education and Care Relief
Package. From Monday 6 April 2020, weekly payments will be made directly to
early childhood education and care services in lieu of the Child Care Subsidy
and the Additional Child Care Subsidy, to help them keep their doors open and
employees in their jobs.
Payments will be made until the end of the 2019–20 financial year and families
will not be charged fees during this time.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for early childhood education and care
providers and services from 6 April
2020
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package Conditions
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package–Exceptional Circumstance
Supplementary Payment
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package–Information for Family Day
Care and In Home Care Providers
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for early childhood education and care
providers and services–up to and including 5 April
2020
Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package–Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment
Providers and services may apply to receive a supplement or ‘top up’ of Early
Childhood Education and Care Relief Package payment in exceptional
circumstances. Providers and services should select the application form that
reflects their reason for applying for additional support as per text boxes
below.
Services seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment that have
30 per cent or more of employees who are not eligible for the JobKeeper
Payment can complete this
application
and outline their circumstances. Services must complete this
spreadsheet and attach it to their application. Applications
without an attached spreadsheet will not be assessed.
Providers seeking an Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payment for any
other reason should complete this
application
and outline their circumstances.
In Home Care (IHC) providers, or large providers (those with 50 or more
services), should email
ECECreliefpackage@dese.gov.au to
request a service-level spreadsheet to complete. This streamlined process is
available to IHC and large providers even if not all services are eligible for
Exceptional Circumstance Supplementary Payments.
This video provides all the information you need to know to complete your
application for an Exceptional Circumstances Supplementary Payment under the
COVID-19 Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package.
Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package
Stay in touch
Make sure your contact details (particularly email addresses) are up to date
in the Child Care Subsidy System so you don’t miss out on important
information. You can do this via the Provider Entry
Point
or through your third party software.
Please also make sure that you have subscribed to receive
communications from the
Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Staying committed to flattening the curve
Each step we take needs to be underpinned by a strong commitment from all of
us to:

stay 1.5 metres away from other people whenever and wherever we can
maintain good hand washing and cough/sneeze hygiene
stay home when we’re unwell, and get tested if we have respiratory symptoms or a fever, and
download the COVIDSafe app so we can find the virus quickly

Our success depends on us making these behaviours part of our daily lives
during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep us COVIDSafe.
Whenever you leave home, you should think about how you’re going to keep
yourself, family, friends and co-workers safe. Make conscious choices about
what you do and when you do it.
This is particularly important for people who are at greater risk of serious
illness from COVID-19, their friends and
their family.
Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
The 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia
National Cabinet’s 3-step plan provides a pathway for states and territories to move
toward COVIDSafe communities in a way that suits their circumstances.
States and territories will move between the steps on the pathway at different
times, in line with their public health situation and local conditions.
They’ll need to maintain strong and prompt control of any outbreaks.
The plan gives Australians some certainty about what is to come in the months
ahead. In conjunction with advice released by Safe Work
Australia, it
will help our businesses make decisions about how they can operate in a
COVIDSafe way to protect their customers and workers.
For each of the major areas of restrictions we have set out 3 key
steps
between where we are now and where we want to be.

The first steps are cautious ones. It is important we do not move too quickly and risk losing the control we have achieved. Some businesses will start to reopen as we start to allow groups of up to 10 people to be together in homes and in the community. These steps help build our COVIDSafe economy, and also give us more opportunities to connect with family and friends.
The second steps in each area will build on this through larger gatherings and even more businesses reopening. As businesses take steps to ensure they are COVIDSafe, we should all feel safe and confident doing some of the things we’ve missed over the last few months. Some higher-risk settings and activities will still be tightly restricted.
The third steps are where we start to fully embrace long-term COVIDSafe ways of living and working — the arrangements that will be our ‘new normal’ while the virus remains a threat. Restrictions will be minimised. Gatherings of up to 100 people, interstate travel, growth in community sport, and the possibility of travel to New Zealand, will be underpinned by COVIDSafe practices. With everyone playing their role, we will build a COVIDSafe Australia, where lives and livelihoods are protected. It is likely some restrictions, on things like international travel and mass gatherings, will remain necessary.

 
View text description and larger image of
'3-Step Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia '
graphic
Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Monitoring our progress
National Cabinet will regularly review our progress. They will be closely
monitoring the situation as restrictions are eased to assess the impact of the
changes so we can move forward safely and with confidence.
As set out in the Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan endorsed by National Cabinet on 1 May 2020, they will
consider:

the pattern of disease around Australia
the capacity of our public health surveillance and testing approaches to detect and isolate cases
the readiness of our health system to respond to outbreaks while also meeting people’s ongoing health needs, and
how well people are following the health advice and abiding by the restrictions in place

This information will guide decisions on the steps each jurisdiction takes as
we make Australia COVIDSafe.
Australia is prepared for an increase in case numbers or possible outbreaks.
It may be that in some parts of the country we sometimes have to take a step
back in order to contain a local outbreak. This should be the exception rather
than the norm.
We want to avoid the uncertainty and disruption of turning restrictions off
and on again, including further health, economic and social shocks as a
result. Our continued success depends on all Australians staying COVIDSafe.
All Australians have an ongoing role to play in protecting their families, co-
workers and the most vulnerable in the community.
Easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Living in a COVIDSafe Australia
Australia has been highly successful in ‘flattening the curve’. The number of
new COVID-19 cases in Australia each day is very low. We can now begin to take
careful steps to ease some of the restrictions that have helped us suppress
the spread of this virus.
From the beginning there have been differences in how COVID-19 has spread in
different parts of the country. National Cabinet has agreed a 3-step
plan to
gradually remove baseline restrictions between now and July. The plan is based
on the expert advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee
(AHPPC) on how to establish COVIDSafe ways of working and living.
Under this plan, each state and territory government will decide which
restrictions can be eased when, taking into account their local circumstances,
meaning states and territories may move at different speeds.
Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Motivation and support
It’s important to be active most days, or every day if you can. But staying
motivated can be a challenge at times.
Things that might help you keep on track include:

finding things you enjoy doing
varying your activities to keep them interesting
setting achievable goals
setting a routine and planning your day to include time for activity
monitoring your activity and progress
getting the support of your family and friends

Read more about getting
active
and download our exercise
planner to keep you on
track.
It’s important to care for your physical and mental health in difficult times.
See our advice on:

caring for your mental health
healthy eating during COVID-19 restrictions
Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
COVID-19 Sports and Health Advisory Committee
A COVID-19 Sports and Health Advisory Committee will support and
guide sporting. The Committee includes experts from across the sporting
sector.
The current advice is that:

The public health advice in your state or territory needs to support a re-start of activities. Any exemptions will need approval from your state or territory.
Anyone with cold or flu like symptoms, even if mild, cannot take part until they are well.
Deep cleaning of shared items and areas as per the Infection Control Guidelines.
Everyone must practise good hygiene. They must wash their hands before and after each session and must avoid touching their face.
Keep records of who attends each venue (names and phone numbers). Public health officials will need this if there is a confirmed case.
Each organisation must make sure they follow protocols and members are aware of their duties.
Organisations must keep up to date with the National Guidelines on the Department of Health website.

If you have any questions you can contact the Committee via email:
COVID19Sports [at] health.gov.au
Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Why staying active is important 
As we spend more time at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, it’s easy to
forget our daily activity routine.
Many of our usual venues have closed, and we’re no longer getting incidental
exercise from commuting or running errands.
But it’s especially important to stay active during this time. Regular
exercise is good for both our physical and mental health. It has many
benefits, including:

reducing the risk of health conditions like stroke and heart disease
controlling weight
reducing stress and anxiety
improving sleep

Read our guidelines on how much physical activity you should get each
day.
Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Physical activity you can’t do right now
To ensure physical distancing to stop the
spread of the virus, in most places you can’t currently:

go to gyms, health clubs or fitness centres
visit public swimming pools
play indoor or outdoor organised sporting events
attend classes, such as yoga or dance, in community centres and halls
use playgrounds or outdoor gyms
visit national or state parks
exercise with a group such as a boot camp or team sport

State and territory governments have different restrictions. See your state or
territory website for more information:

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Exercising and staying active during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Ways you can still be active 
There are still many ways you can be active while maintaining physical
distance.
Out and about
You can still exercise in some public places. You can meet up with a friend,
family member, or trainer. You can:

walk
jog
ride a bike or scooter
kick a ball at the oval

Just remember to stay home if you are unwell, keep 1.5 metres apart, avoid
physical contact, and wash your hands.
At home
Physical activity you can do at home includes:

weights training — if you don’t have any weights, make your own with filled water bottles, cans or jars
yoga
pilates
backyard sports
going up and down stairs
on-the-spot running, star jumps, sit ups and push ups
gardening
dancing
virtual fitness classes
Zoom or Skype group lounge exercises with your friends

You will find plenty of inspiration at the Find Your
30 campaign.
Regardless of your fitness level, or the space you have to work with, you will
find free exercise videos on YouTube and a large choice of home workout apps
available for download.