15 December 1999

Exemption from the Superannuation Guarantee for Non-Residents Employed for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Rod Kemp, announced today an exemption from the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) in respect of non-residents employed for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A number of non-residents with specialist skills will be working in Australia for the period leading up to, and the duration of, the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As non-residents working in Australia, they would normally be subject to the Superannuation Guarantee.

The exemption will apply to salary and wages paid for services provided between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2000 to non-residents who have entered Australia and are employed solely and directly in connection with the Sydney 2000 Olympics or Paralympics:

  • to provide administrative and organisational support for an official Olympic or Paralympic body
  • to compete in the Sydney 2000 Olympics or Paralympics
  • to provide administrative, organisational, training, coaching, medical, or other support to an athlete who is competing in the Olympics or Paralympics
  • to provide media coverage for the Olympics or Paralympics
  • by an employer under a Labour Agreement with the Commonwealth
  • by an employer under a contract to provide services at an Olympic or Paralympic site with an official Olympic or Paralympic body.

This exemption will operate on a self-assessment approach. It will apply only if the non-resident does not undertake any non-Olympic related employment in Australia in 2000.

The regulations mean that superannuation funds will not incur the ongoing administration costs associated with maintaining contact with a large number of overseas members with very small accounts who were employed in connection with the Olympics and or Paralympics with very small accounts.

MELBOURNE

15 December 1999

Contact:
Richard Allsop
Assistant Treasurer’s Office
(03) 9650 7274