Coronavirus live updates: ATO targeting fraudsters using government help

Aussies taking advantage of coronavirus government help are in the firing line at tax time this year, with the ATO focusing on a couple of scams.

Fraudsters taking advantage of coronavirus stimulus measures have been put on notice as tax time comes closer.

The Australian Tax Office warned it was cracking down on people exploiting JobKeeper payments, early superannuation release and business cash flow schemes. Anyone caught breaking the law could face massive fines or jail time.

The ATO has uncovered intelligence about a number of dodgy tactics, including people withdrawing super and redepositing it to receive a tax deduction. Others are fudging their personal finances to apply for the hardship program.

Deputy Commissioner Will Day said the ATO generally worked on the assumption people acted honestly, but would conduct checks later.

“If you’ve received a benefit as part of the COVID-19 stimulus measures and we discover you are ineligible, you can expect to hear from us,” he said today.

“It is much better to come forward to make a voluntary disclosure than waiting to be audited.”

RELATED: Aussies' incredible virus breakthrough 

RELATED: Stunning Victoria lockdown prediction

Australia has 7,497 confirmed cases of coronavirus and saw another 20 people test positive for the illness today - 17 in Victoria, one in NSW and two in Western Australia.

Updates

9:20 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Plans to divert quarantine arrivals away from Melbourne put on hold

A discussion to divert overseas arrivals away from Melbourne has been put on hold despite Victoria's coronavirus cases continuing to spike.

Coronavirus outbreaks at two hotels being used to quarantine returned travellers in Melbourne sparked discussions between Victoria and the federal government about the reliability of the program.

But, as reported by The Age, the plan has been put on hold at the last minute.

"There are no plans at this stage to divert repatriation flights from Melbourne to other airports," an Australian Border Force spokesperson told the paper.

"The ABF continues to work with state and territory authorities on their ability to receive repatriation flights at their airports based on the available health resources and quarantine capacity."

Victoria saw 17 new cases of coronavirus today – the seventh day in a row the state has recorded double digit increases.

Staff members at both the Stamford Plaza and the Rydges in Melbourne have contracted the virus and spread it to close contacts.

7:40 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Fraudsters taking advantage of coronavirus benefits in firing line

Fraudsters taking advantage of coronavirus stimulus measures have been put on notice, AAP reports.

The tax office is cracking down on people exploiting JobKeeper payments, early superannuation release and business cash flow schemes.

Anyone caught breaking the law could face massive fines or jail time.

The ATO has uncovered intelligence about a number of dodgy tactics, including people withdrawing super and redepositing it to receive a tax deduction.

Others are fudging their personal finances to apply for the hardship program.

The ATO is also eyeing off employers manipulating their turnovers to receive JobKeeper wage subsidies, along with businesses pulling shifty tricks to maximise cash flow injections.

Deputy Commissioner Will Day said the ATO generally worked on the assumption people acted honestly, but would conduct checks later.

“If you’ve received a benefit as part of the COVID-19 stimulus measures and we discover you are ineligible, you can expect to hear from us,” he said today.

“It is much better to come forward to make a voluntary disclosure than waiting to be audited.”

6:17 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

West Australian pub serving free meals

A pub in Western Australia will serve free meals to anyone with the name Mark in celebration of the state's premier Mark McGowan.

The premier has seen a surge in popularity over the past couple of months for the way his government handled the coronavirus crisis.

And now The Swinging Pig, a pub an hour south of Perth in the suburb of Rockingham, is taking their thanks one step further.

Pubs will reopen in Western Australia from this weekend and anyone with the name Mark, Marc, Marcus or Marco invited to have a free meal.

5:56 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Sydney Airport hits major coronavirus milestone

Sydney hit a major coronavirus milestone today with Australian Federal Police officers announcing they had helped 20,000 people through the international airport.

"Whether returning to Sydney, or transiting through the airport, our members have been helping keep the travelling public safe," the AFP said.

"A total of 1397 buses have been used in the transfers, which have taken 20,000 people to 26 different Sydney CBD hotels since travel restrictions were introduced in late March.

"Our members have been under the pump but are proud of what they have achieved during this extraordinary period."

5:23 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Mexican triplets born with coronavirus

Mexican triplets have tested positive for coronavirus at birth and are believed to have contracted the virus in utero.

The children, two boys and one girl, were born by caesarean section last Wednesday in the state of San Luis Potosi, in north-eastern Mexico.

“On the same day they were born, they were tested because they were premature, and the results were positive,” the state’s health secretary, Monica Rangel said at a press conference on Monday.

The children’s test results arrived on Saturday.

Only one has symptoms of COVID-19. The other two babies are asymptomatic, as were their parents, who were still awaiting the result of their own tests.

Ms Rangel said it would be “impossible” for them to have developed the disease after they were born, as they were tested within hours of their birth.

“Here what we will have to investigate is a situation, perhaps, where (the virus) has been transmitted through the placenta. It is not something that we confirm,” she added.

“The case is striking, we are going to study it.”

Mexico recorded more than 4500 coronavirus cases yesterday.

5:00 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Hundreds of South Australians heading home from virus hotspots

Hundreds of Aussies will land in Adelaide by the end of the week from the world's virus hotspots.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said around 800 people would land in Adelaide by June 28 with one flight coming from South America, two from India and a defence force group coming home from Indonesia.

"There will be a strict regime in place to ensure that they are properly processed at the airport, loaded onto buses, conveyed to a supervised quarantine location where they'll undergo health checks," Mr Stevens told reporters.

The hundreds of passengers will do their 14 days in government-mandated hotel quarantine.

South Australia hasn't seen a new coronavirus case for four weeks and is one of Australia's best performing states and territories.

2:37 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Coles worker among new virus cases

A Coles worker is one of Victoria's 17 new coronavirus cases today.

The person had worked at the Coles Distribution Centre in Laverton while infectious last week, Victoria's health department said in a statement.

Close contacts have been identified and quarantined and the centre commenced a deep clean last night.

"Due to its size, regular cleaning measures and physical distancing, the risk of transmission is very low," the department said.

"The centre will be able to continue to operate with strict physical distancing to ensure safe food and grocery supply across the state."

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said the influx of cases meant the state would be forced to stay under virus restrictions for longer than expected.

“This is the seventh consecutive day of double-digit case growth in Victoria, with a continuing and concerning number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families," Mr Sutton said.

“As a consequence, the Victorian Government has announced a tightening of the rules and has reduced the number of visitors you can have in your home to five.

"Outside of the home, people can now gather in groups of up to 10 only.

“This move is important to keeping our community safe and to ensure COVID-19 does not get away from us. We do not want Victoria to suffer like many major cities around the world who have been devastated by the severe impacts of COVID-19."

1:37 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

Virus door knocks reveal disturbing trend

When police officers went to check on 174 people who were supposed to be self-isolating in Victoria yesterday, 13 of them weren't home, says the state's Police Minister.

Lisa Neville told 3AW this afternoon one fine has been issued and 12 are having their excuses checked.

Why are (SOME) people such idiots? @LisanevilleMP tells @3AWNeilMitchell 13 people who were meant to be self-isolating at home weren't there when police knocked on 174 doors yesterday.

One fine issued so far – other 12 having their excuses checked.

— Heidi Murphy (@heidimur) June 23, 2020

Premier Daniel Andrews says there is now an "army" of people knocking on doors in Melbourne to make sure the rules are being followed.

"I can also confirm for you that there is literally an army of people going out door knocking," he said.

"There will be hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people from our expanded public health team out there door knocking in hot spot suburbs and other areas if that’s deemed appropriate.

"They will do that job in providing public health advice and making sure that everybody, where language and other issues like that won’t be a barrier."

1:20 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

'Don't go there': Melbourne warning

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has bluntly warned families and business travellers planning trips to Melbourne “don’t go there” as cases spike.

In an extraordinary warning she’s also urged holiday resorts to reject school holiday bookings from families from hot spot Victorian suburbs, describing the option as “basic pandemic management”.

“You should not be travelling to Melbourne at this time because of the rate of community transmission,’’ she said. “Do not go interstate. My advice is even stronger, do not go down there.

Read More

12:52 pm June 23, 2020 Highlight

South Australia relaxing rules

South Australia will relax density requirements for pubs, bars, restaurants and other venues with a one person allowed to every two square metres from next week.

The change to coronavirus regulations will allow businesses to potentially double their capacity, a move the hospitality sector says will improve the viability of venues.

Premier Steven Marshall says the state remains on track to lift all its remaining border restrictions on July 20 but he is closely monitoring the situation in Victoria where there has been a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases.

AAP