The McGowan Government will today introduce urgent legislation that will allow the Government to provide additional payroll tax support for Western Australian businesses impacted by COVID-19, if they are needed after the March State election.
Current laws that give the Government the power to introduce payroll tax support measures to respond to economic impacts of COVID-19 expire in April next year.
Finance Minister Ben Wyatt will today introduce legislation to extend these powers, given it is unlikely there will be sufficient time to deal with the legislation when Parliament resumes after the election in March 2021.
The Pay-roll Tax Relief (COVID-19 Response) Act passed through Parliament in April, giving around 10,700 small businesses a four-month payroll tax waiver, as well as payroll tax exemptions for payments made under the Commonwealth Government's JobKeeper scheme.
The Act also included powers that would allow other payroll tax measures to be introduced as part of COVID-19 relief measures, if required. It will be automatically repealed on April 21, 2021, meaning any regulations and all regulation-making powers will cease.
The Bill introduced today will preserve the regulation-making powers in the event other payroll relief tax measures are required after April 20, 2021.
As stated by Finance Minister Ben Wyatt:
"Our Government has delivered a range of measures to support Western Australian small businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Bill introduced today will allow the Government to continue this support, as required, into the future.
"It is vital that this Bill is passed so additional payroll tax support can be provided to WA small businesses, if it is needed.
"If this is delayed until after the election it may well result in businesses missing out on the cash flow benefits that future payroll tax relief could bring.
"I urge all Members of Parliament to support these laws and guarantee their swift passage through State Parliament, to provide certainty to Western Australian small businesses."
