1Short titleThis regulation may be cited as the Rural and Regional Adjustment (Work in Paradise Incentive Scheme and Another Matter) Amendment Regulation 2021.2CommencementThis regulation commences on 1 July 2021.3Regulation amendedThis regulation amends the Rural and Regional Adjustment Regulation 2011.4Amendment of s 3 (Approval of schemes—Act, s 11)Section 3(1), ‘35’—omit, insert—365Amendment of sch 16 (Schemes approved under Act, section 11(4))(1)Schedule 16—insert—

9The scheme mentioned in the document called ‘North Queensland Recovery and Resilience (Stream 2) Grants Scheme—Land Management (North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January–14 February 2019)—Guidelines’, published by the authority.

(2)Schedule 16, note, ‘8’—omit, insert—96Insertion of new sch 36After schedule 35—insert—Schedule 36Work in paradise incentive schemesection 3(1)Part 1Preliminary1Objective of schemeThe objective of the scheme is to help particular regional businesses in the tourism industry to meet recovering customer demand.2Purpose of assistanceThe purpose of assistance under the scheme is to attract job seekers to offers of continuous periods of eligible employment by—

(a)paying up to 3 incentive instalments to eligible job seekers; and

(b)paying a travel bonus to job seekers who—

(i)are eligible for the first incentive instalment under the scheme in relation to a continuous period of eligible employment; and

(ii)relocate, by at least 100km from their principal place of residence, to engage in the eligible employment.

3Definitions for scheduleIn this schedule—ANZSIC means the document called ‘Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)’ published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.Note—ANZSIC is available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ website. applicant means a person applying for financial assistance under the scheme.continuous means without interruption, other than—

(a)an interruption of up to 6 months because of—

(i)illness or injury; or

(ii)a seasonal or environmental event; orExamples—cyclone, flood

(iii)a workplace closure in compliance with a public health direction under the Public Health Act 2005, section 362B; or

(b)another interruption of up to 2 weeks.

direct selling means selling a thing from a location other than retail premises.eligible business means a business—

(a)for which an entity holds an Australian Business Number; and

(b)that is registered for GST; and

(c)that operates primarily for the tourist market; and

(d)whose primary activity is—

(i)an activity listed in ANZSIC under class code 4400, 4511, 4513, 4520, 4530, 4623, 4820, 5010, 6611, 7220, 7299, 8910, 8921, 8922, 9003, 9131 or 9139; or

(ii)art gallery operation; or

(iii)duty free store operation; or

(iv)souvenirs retailing, other than by direct selling; or

(v)travel goods retailing, other than by direct selling.

eligible employment means employment that is—

(a)with an eligible business for at least 20 hours per week; and

(b)in a local government area other than the City of Brisbane, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast or Toowoomba local government area.

first instalment see section 5(1)(a).incentive instalment see section 4(1)(a).scheme means the scheme set out in this schedule.second instalment see section 5(1)(b).third instalment see section 5(1)(c).travel bonus see section 4(1)(b).Part 2General provisions for scheme4Nature and amount of assistance(1)The nature of assistance available to an applicant under the scheme is—

(a)payment of up to 3 instalments (each an incentive instalment) as an incentive to complete 3 continuous periods of eligible employment, starting after 20 May 2021; and

(b)for an applicant who, after 20 May 2021, relocates by a distance of at least 100km from the applicant’s principal place of residence to complete at least 2 continuous weeks of eligible employment—payment of an amount (the travel bonus) as an incentive for the relocation.

(2)The amount of each incentive instalment payable under the scheme is $500.(3)The amount of the travel bonus payable under the scheme is $250.5Payment of assistance(1)The incentive instalments are payable to an applicant under the scheme as follows—

(a)an instalment (the first instalment) on the authority approving the application under section 9;

(b)an instalment (the second instalment) on the authority being satisfied the applicant has completed at least 12 continuous weeks of eligible employment;

(c)an instalment (the third instalment) on the authority being satisfied the applicant has completed at least 24 continuous weeks of eligible employment.

(2)However, an incentive instalment is not payable to an applicant in relation to a continuous period of eligible employment completed after 31 December 2022.(3)The travel bonus is payable to an applicant under the scheme on the authority approving the application under section 9.6Nature of applicationsAn application must be made—

(a)in relation to a period of eligible employment offered to the applicant, starting after 20 May 2021—

(i)of at least 8 continuous weeks; and

(ii)of which the applicant has completed at least 2 continuous weeks; and

(b)for either or both of the following in connection with the eligible employment—

(i)incentive instalments;

(ii)the travel bonus.

Note—Requirements for applications are stated in section 8.7Eligibility criteria(1)An applicant is eligible to receive assistance under the scheme if—

(a)the applicant has not previously received assistance under the scheme; and

(b)the authority is satisfied the applicant—

(i)is either—

(A)an Australian citizen or permanent resident; or

(B)entitled, under a visa granted under the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth), to work in Australia; and

(ii)is at least 18 years of age; and

(iii)has been offered at least 8 continuous weeks of eligible employment, starting after 20 May 2021.

(2)However, an applicant is only eligible to receive—

(a)the first instalment on the authority being satisfied the applicant has completed at least 2 continuous weeks of the eligible employment mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(iii); and

(b)the second instalment on the authority being satisfied as mentioned in section 5(1)(b); and

(c)the third instalment on the authority being satisfied as mentioned in section 5(1)(c).

(3)Also, an applicant is eligible to receive the travel bonus only if the authority is satisfied—

(a)the applicant has relocated, by a distance of at least 100km from the applicant’s principal place of residence, to engage in the eligible employment; and

(b)the relocation happened after 20 May 2021.

(4)In this section—permanent resident means the holder of a permanent visa under the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth), section 30(1).8Applications(1)An application for assistance under the scheme must—

(a)be made to the authority on the authority’s application form; and

(b)be accompanied by the documents stated in the form; and

(c)be received by the authority no later than 5:30p.m. on 31 March 2022.

(2)If the authority asks the applicant to provide further information to decide the application, the applicant must provide the information.9Deciding applications(1)The authority must consider, and decide to approve or refuse to approve, each application for assistance under the scheme that complies with section 8(1).(2)The authority must consider applications in the order they are received by the authority.(3)The authority must approve an application if the authority is satisfied the applicant is eligible for assistance under section 7.(4)The authority must refuse an application for assistance to the extent the authority’s assistance funds for the scheme are not enough to pay for the assistance.(5)If the authority refuses to approve the application, the authority must give the applicant written notice of the decision.