The State & Federal Governments have now announced various cash funding for employees and small businesses that have been affected by the current Lockdowns.

COVID-19 Disaster Payment

This scheme provides $375 per week for those workers who have lost between 8 and less than 20 hours’ work, or have lost a full day of work, and $600 per week if a person has lost over 20 hours’ work.

Application is via your MyGov account from Wednesday 28^th July 2021, with payments weekly in arrears.

For more details see https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment

Services NSW has opened the online application process.

The two Grants and links to the application forms follow:

2021 JobSaver Payment

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/jobsaver-payment

2021 Covid 19 Micro Business Grant

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/2021-covid-19-micro-business-grant

Support is also available if you are impacted by the Victorian and SA lockdowns.

South Australian small and medium-sized businesses forced to close as a result of the state’s lockdown (beginning 20 July 2021) may be eligible for a $3,000 emergency cash grant as part of a major financial assistance package announced by the Government of South Australia.

Small businesses who don’t employ staff (ie. sole traders) may be eligible for $1000.

The $100 million Business Support Package will assist an estimated 50,000 eligible SMEs to cover ongoing operating costs such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw material costs and other fees.

The Victorian Government has announced new cash grants for businesses impacted by the lockdown declared on 15 July 2021.

The cash grants will be paid automatically to businesses that successfully received a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 (including regional businesses). See the info sheets below.

Support is available for individuals as well as businesses. Full details are available at the links below. These information sheets have been shared with members by the association’s auditors, Page Harrision  & Co

What lock down support is available to business in NSW?

What lock down support is available in Victoria?

What Lockdown Support is Available – All Individuals?

Victorians only have 5 reasons to leave home for the next week. These include care and caregiving, exercise, authorised work, groceries and getting vaccinated. Face masks will now be required everywhere outside of the home (previously masks were required in indoor settings only). Exercise and shopping will be limited to five kilometres from home. Non-essential retail will be closed, but may operate for contactless click-and-collect and home deliveries only. (Essential retail includes: Supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies).

You can download the Statement From The Acting Premier_ May 27

And see a list of New rules applying to the Lockdown for May 27 – June 3

A summary which can be read by CLICKING HERE reveals that the 2020 ABS Import statistics would record an uplift in the overall music products market with a near 2% value increase over 2019, along with a 4% drop in volume. While some sectors had very challenging times through the pandemic period others experienced strong demand. Difficulties in supply were experienced and back orders long. The usual patterns of imports arriving were altered and may become evident in 2021 figures.
The full summary of all product segments for 2020 is available in the Members area of the website.

The Australian Retailers Association has today circularised its members that the Western Australian Government has today (February 1)  announced new measures affecting retailers, following yesterday’s announcement of a five-day lockdown until 6pm Friday 5 February.

Non-essential retail will be required to close as part of the lockdown.  

Retailers are also required to use the government’s QR Code system from 6am tomorrow – the SafeWA contact tracing system. This has been brought forward from its previously announced start date of Friday 12 February.

Retail providers of essential goods are permitted to stay open, and include the following categories:

• Supermarkets and grocery stores (including bakeries, butchers, fruit and vegetable stores and fishmongers)
• Take away food outlets
• Specialist food stores
• Hardware stores
• Pharmacies
• Post offices
• Newsagents
• Liquor stores
• Petrol stations
• Road houses and truck stops

Shopping centres may open to provide access to essential retail providers. All other retailers are required to close.

Essential retailers are also permitted to open their associated warehouses to conduct business activities. Non-essential retailers may only operate their warehouses to undertake necessary tasks to avoid business failure, such as to perform critical maintenance.

Click-and-collect services can only continue for essential retailers.

Please monitor the Western Australian Government’s website. for formal announcements and detail. As at 5.30pm the website had not been updated with additional detail.

Maton was featured in media recently in a comprehensive piece about past and present to celebrate 75 years since Bill May started Maton – congratulations to Mrs May and the Kitchen family on such a monumental achievement – this news piece says it all. (we have to forgive Channel 9 for getting Neville’s name wrong!)

Victoria’s music retailers will celebrate some good news with the retail reopening date for metropolitan Melbourne, officially announced by the Victorian Premier from Wednesday 28 October 2020.

Staff are now permitted back into any Melbourne metropolitan stores to begin Covid safe and Christmas preparations.

There are no new restrictions imposed on retailers at this time. Victorian retailers need to keep stores, staff and customers safe and have a COVIDSafe Plan in place before re-opening. If you need help creating a COVIDSafe Plan, please call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

The Australian Retailers Association has provided some facts sheets to assist with reopening:

• How to create a COVIDSafe Workplace?
• What should I do if a worker tests positive for COVID-19?
• What should I do if a worker is showing COVID-19 symptoms?

The AMA is Supporting efforts to persuade the Minister & the CMO that group tuition in singing and brass & woodwind can proceed with COVID safe processes. The AMA, has written to the Minister for Education on behalf of our members and the broader music education community to express our deep concern regarding the sudden and blanket prohibition of brass and woodwind instruments and singing in schools as outlined in the Schools Operation Guide communicated on 4 October 2020. A music education consultative group including the AMA seeks the opportunity to work with Health and Education Officials to implement COVID safe practices which protect our community in a return to holistic music making in our schools.

Members can read the AMA’s submission in support of Music in Schools AMA Letter of Support Covid Safe Schools

You can also listen to a teacher explaining their challenges on the ABC’s breakfast with Sammy J

READ MORE.

Damon McMahon

After 9 ½ years Damon McMahon who has headed the Casio Electronic Musical Instruments division since 2011 has resigned and is going to Madison AV in the pro audio sector.

“I’m joining the Pro A/V industry in a senior sales role involved with all things digital audio & video related. Whilst I’m looking forward to this fresh challenge, it has truly been a difficult decision”. Damon said.

“The music products industry is, for most members, a way of life. It’s anything but just “a job” or “just a business”. I leave a great business and an iconic brand which, in many ways, leads the categories in which it competes. But much more difficult is leaving wonderful colleagues and customers, many of whom have become life-long friends”.

“I think it fair to say we share a common passion in making music, which makes such a positive difference in people’s lives. This alone makes it pretty difficult for most of us to contemplate “should I do something else?”.

Damon’s departure will provide a senior sales role opportunity open up. Shriro’s General Manager Piers Halleen, advised that the role will be based in Sydney, and will be responsible for managing one of Casio EMI’s leading sales territories. The successful applicant will have a strong background in piano and keyboard categories and demonstrate a clear understanding of the sales process.

If you have the skills and desire, drop Piers a note @ casioemi@shriro.com.au

The Association wishes Damon all the best and extends its thanks and appreciation of his service on the executive committee in recent years.

In what was disappointing news for music retailers in Melbourne metro, the Premier announcement an extension to the current Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions on September 6. A full summary is available at the DHHS website CLICK HERE

Music retail will continue to operate in most cases with their click and collect and home delivery services to serve the music making needs of the city. Most are likely to re-open their doors to customers after October 26 under the current restrictions announced.