NDS is seeking feedback on the changes listed below, as well as the impact of the current regulations on your organisations. We are particularly interested in examples of the specific impact and costs of the Long Service Benefits Scheme on your organisation, and any issues which may arise for your organisation if the scope of the Scheme is related to award coverage. Please email any feedback to Cassidy Livingstone at submit enquiry/feedback. 

The Victorian Government has commenced its review of the Long Service Benefits Portability Interim Regulations. These regulations support the Long Service Benefits Portability Act, and are being revised to give greater clarity to employers and workers about the coverage and operational aspects of the portable long service benefits scheme. The government is aiming to have new, permanent regulations in place by 6 November 2020.

As a part of the review, a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) will be prepared. Consultation on the RIS has commenced, although both the RIS and draft regulations will only be available from late April 2020.

The draft Regulations, when published, will be different from the current Interim Regulations. The most significant proposed changes to be included in the draft Regulations are:

• Abolishing the 'employee predominance test' for the community services sector and replacing it with a test based on award coverage. NDS understands that these awards will be the SCHADS Award, Children’s Services Award and Education Services Teachers Award.
  
  
• Treating community health centres and women’s health services in the same way as other service providers. This will mean that they will be covered if they provide a service that is a community service, and if they employ persons under the relevant awards. Employers for those services will only have to pay the levy for their eligible workers performing community service work.

NDS is now seeking feedback on the changes listed above, and more broadly the impact of the current regulations on your organisations. NDS has previously argued that the Scheme is costly and onerous for employers, and not a cost effective strategy to address workforce challenges.

We are interested in examples of the specific impact and costs of the Long Service Benefits Scheme on your organisation, and any issues which may arise for your organisation if the scope of the Scheme is related to award coverage.

Please email any feedback to Cassidy Livingstone at submit enquiry/feedback. 

Save the Date – Wednesday, 6 May 2020, 2:00pm – 3:30pm: Once the government releases the RIS and draft regulations, NDS will confirm details of an online consultation meeting with members. At this stage, please save the date of 6 May 2020, 2.00pm – 3.30pm. Interested members can email Cassidy Livingstone to register their interest in participating in the consultation, and NDS will publicise details once the government documents have been released. Feedback from members will inform the NDS submission.

Information about the review is also available via the Engage Victoria website.