Date issued: 9 February 2011
On behalf of CPA Australia, our thoughts are with all the families and businesses that have been affected by the Queensland floods.
Members can contact CPA Australia on +61 7 3100 6800 or 1300 737 373 (outside Brisbane).
During this time, CPA Australia has been examining the potential impact on our members and their clients. The following support has been identified and further updates on assistance packages will be posted on the CPA Australia website and in CPA Update.
Disaster recovery toolkit
CPA Australia has developed a disaster recovery toolkit offering guidance for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been affected by a natural disaster, both directly and indirectly.
The toolkit includes checklists for re-opening a business and managing during times of financial difficulty as well as tools to help reconstruct financial records.
Pamela Pointon FCPA, president, CPA Australia’s Queensland division recommends using the toolkit, ‘If you are a CPA practice affected by the floods, we encourage you to make use of the disaster recovery toolkit, and share this with your clients’.
Disaster recovery podcast episode
As part of CPA Australia's sound business podcast series, an episode has been produced to help businesses recover from a disaster.
Economic Recovery in Queensland
CPA Australia will be actively involved in contributing to the Business Advisory Group assisting with Economic Recovery in Queensland. David Lee, general manager, CPA Australia Queensland division has represented CPA Australia at the first meeting of this forum.
Automatic one year deferral scheduled annual quality assurance reviews
To assist CPA practitioners operating in Queensland’s flood-stricken area, CPA Australia is also granting an automatic one year deferral on scheduled annual quality assurance reviews. Reviews will now be deferred until after January 2012.
Personal assistance
Members who are concerned about their program, enrolment, membership subscriptions and other issues, can contact 1300 737 373 for personal assistance.
If your CPA practice or your clients have been directly impacted, you can contact Mr Lee on +61 7 3100 6800 to discuss ways CPA Australia can assist you.
Other support and payment packages
A range of support and payment packages will be offered by the Australian Commonwealth Government, and the Australian Taxation Office has support strategies for those affected by floods. Flood victims in Queensland can get their tax payments deferred and refunds fast-tracked, after the government announced a series of measures to make things a little easier for people dealing with the devastation of the floods.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has also recognised that some companies and office holders in flood affected areas may have difficulties in coming weeks with lodgements, notifications and payment of fees. The body recently announced special arrangements to assist companies, including extensions of time and late fees waived.
Queensland Premier's flood relief appeal
CPA Australia also encourages those who can to donate to the Queensland Premier's flood relief appeal.
