The Heart Foundation welcomed the announcement by the government to lower the threshold at which charities are eligible for the JobKeeper Payment as a result of income loss due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commissions will now be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if they have suffered a 15 per cent decline in turnover as a result of the coronavirus – lowered from the 30 per cent originally announced.
“There are more than four million Australians living with cardiovascular disease and one thing we know for sure at this point is that these people are more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.
“We applaud the Federal Government for this announcement, which will allow us to continue to provide the necessary support, advice and care to those Australians who need it most at this time,” Heart Foundation Group CEO, Adjunct Professor John Kelly, said.
The reduced threshold is expected to go before Parliament on Wednesday and will be included in a $130 billion package to support Australia’s not-for-profit sector.
