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Business and industry
The WA State Government has announced several assistance packages for transport business and industry operators as a result of the financial impact of COVID-19.
Maritime assistance package for small business
We have introduced a financial assistance package for small businesses operating from our 30 harbours and marinas.
Tenants
If your small business has a current lease with DoT for premises at a maritime facility, you may be eligible for immediate rent relief for six months. All lessees will be contacted by DoT but in the meantime see our FAQs for more information.
DoT pen and mooring holders
Businesses with tourism charter or fishing vessels penned or moored at a DoT maritime facility will have their accommodation fees waived for one year. See our FAQs for further information.
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The COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Omnibus Act 2020 validated eligible vessel accommodation fee waivers made from 1 April 2020 to 11 March 2021, with Section 8 of the Act also empowering the CEO to administratively waive, reduce or refund fees by way of written order, until the end of 2021.
Not all eligible operators were able to access their fee waiver or exhaust their fee relief amount during the initial validation period. The below CEO Order provides authority for any outstanding waivers or reductions through to the end of 2021.
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Relief for the passenger transport industry
The Department of Transport has announced several measures to provide timely financial relief to the passenger transport industry, to ease the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes:
- Waiving of on-demand booking service and passenger transport vehicle authorisation renewal fees (for renewals due before April 2021);
- A one-off cash payment of $2,500 for booking services that also hold PTV authorisations; and
- Extension of the camera surveillance unit deadline from 2 July 2020 to 1 July 2021.
Visit COVID-19 relief for the passenger transport industry for further details.
Keeping safe
We know there is a lot of industry concern about drivers’ health and safety during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Visit COVID-19: Health and safety for passenger transport operators for up-to-date information on safety for drivers and passengers.
While exempt from social distancing rules, booking services have a legislated responsibility to ensure the health and safety of drivers and passengers and may enforce different protocols to do this during this time.
State of emergency – no surge pricing allowed
On Sunday 15 March 2020, Premier McGowan and the State Government declared a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act and a Public Health Emergency under the Public Health Act.
Under the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Regulations 2019, surge pricing and queue-jumping fees are not allowed when a State of Emergency has been declared.
| WA Department of Health website | |
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| Australian Government Department of Health website | |
Funding to secure Rex air services
The State Government is providing financial assistance towards maintaining essential air services provided by Rex in regional WA. The $3 million funding will help to secure Regional Express (Rex) services on the regional air routes of Albany, Esperance and Carnarvon-Monkey Mia.
These measures will help to ensure essential workers, such as in the health and emergency sectors, can continue to provide services in regional areas.
| FAQs: State government support for regional Rex flights for Albany, Esperance and Carnarvon-Monkey Mia | Kb |
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| New funding secures essential Rex air services for WA | |
Translating and interpreting
Translation and interpreter services are available for DoT customers. For further information about COVID in languages other than English, visit COVID-19 coronavirus: Advice in other languages.