16 April 2020
The NSW State Government has announced a $50 million relief package set to provide over 200,000 businesses across the state temporary relief from state government licensing fees. The license and permit fees will be waived for a 12-month relief period under the NSW Government’s first economic stimulus package.
The measures were implemented to help businesses during the current economic crisis focus on keeping in business and assist those businesses in retaining as many employees as possible by reducing overheads for State imposed licensing fees and permits.
Liquor and Gaming NSW
The annual liquor licence base fee and trading hours risk loading fee waivers will be applicable for most licensees for 12 months (2020-2021 fee period). Licensees will receive a $0 invoice to confirm the administration of the licence is complete. Compliance risk loadings will not be subject to waivers, but will be deferred and should be included as part of 2021-2022 annual liquor licence fees.
Licences that are eligible for the automatic fee waiver include:
- small bar licence
- microbreweries and small distilleries licence
- on-premises licence
- club licence
- hotel licence
- producer/wholesaler licence
- limited licences
- general bar licence
packaged liquor licence (if three or less outlets are owned by the same licensee or business)
Exception: Bottle shops and home delivery businesses (packaged liquor licences) with four or more outlets owned by the same licensee or business are currently not eligible for fee waiver assistance.
In addition, new liquor licence application fees and pro-rata liquor licence fees will be waived in full ($0) for 12 months between 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021 for affected businesses.
NSW Fair Trading
The following new application and renewal fee waivers apply:
- paintball venue permits (From 1 April 2020)
- tattoo parlour operator licence (From 1 April 2020)
- home building contractor licences (From 15 April 2020)
- trade or specialist contractor licences (From 15 April 2020)
- motor vehicle repairer licences (From 15 April 2020)
- tattooist licence (From 20 April 2020)
- home building: Qualified Supervisor Certificates (Building supervisor certificate) (From 20 April 2020)
- home building: tradesperson certificates (From 20 April 2020)
- motor vehicle tradesperson certificates (From 20 April 2020)
Note however, the waivers will apply for the minimum renewal term (some licences may be purchased for different lengths of time i.e. one or three years) and the fee waivers do not apply for change of class, changes to the licence or replacement of the licence.
SafeWork NSW
The following new application and renewal fee waivers apply:
- pyrotechnician licences (e.g. fireworks) (From 1 April 2020)
- registration permits for an amusement device (From 1 April 2020)
- asbestos removal licences and asbestos assessor licences (From 15 April 2020)
- demolition licences (From 15 April 2020)
- high risk worker licences (From 15 April 2020)
- High Risk Work Assessor Accreditation (From 20 April 2020)
- SafeWork Registered Training Organisations (for asbestos, construction and high-risk work training) – new applications only (From 20 April 2020)
Note however, the waivers will apply for the minimum renewal term (some licences may be purchased for different lengths of time i.e. one or three years) and the fee waivers do not apply for change of class, changes to the licence or replacement of the licence.
Rostron Carlyle Rojas is here to help
We are committed to keeping you up to date with the ever-evolving laws in Australia, especially during the course of the COVI-19 pandemic. Our team of qualified legal advisors are ready to assist you with navigating the complexities of the ever-changing legal frameworks that underpin business in Australia.
Do you need guidance or advice on applicable deferrals, waivers, other business stimulus packages and/or support available during the coronavirus pandemic?
Contact us today at (02) 9307 8900 or send us your questions by email at [email protected].
