GST Start-Up Assistance Office Facts and Figures

(Current at 30 August 2000)

The Office

Official Name

GST Start-Up Assistance Office (GSTSAO).

Contact Details

GST Assist Helpline: 13 30 88 (6am-3am EST, 7 days)

Postal address: Locked Bag 23, Kingston ACT 2604

Fax: 02 6263 4422 (24 hours)

Email: enquiries@gststartup.gov.au

Life of Office

The GST Start-Up Assistance Office was established in August 1999 and is due to wind-up on 31 December 2000.

Task

To assist the Small to Medium Enterprise, Community and Education (SMECE) sector adjust their businesses to the goods and services tax (GST) environment.

Funding

The Government set aside $500 million for the GSTSAO achieve their task. From this sum, $49 million was rolled-over and appropriated for the six months July-December 2000.

General Manager

Dr James (Jim) Hagan.

Major Programmes

The GSTSAO delivers assistance to its target audience through 4 programme areas - Organisation Delivered Assistance, Business Skills Education, Adviser Education and Direct Assistance.

The Organisation Delivered Assistance Programme funds selected industry and professional associations to deliver industry-specific GST education and information services.

The Business Skills Education Programme delivers GST educational materials and services with a business skills focus to SMECEs.

The Adviser Education Programme provides education of informal business advisers to SMECEs.

The Direct Assistance Programme assists small and medium enterprises and community sector organisations offset the cost of purchasing GST-related products and services. A $200 Certificate redeemable on GST services and products was issued to small and medium businesses and community organisations which registered for an ABN and GST before 31 May 2000. Certificates can be used for all GST-related products and services (including hardware and software) but must be redeemed with Registered Suppliers to the GSTSAO by 31 October 2000.

Statistics

GST Assist Helpline 13 30 88

Commenced: October 1999.

Total Calls to 31 July 2000: 562,294 (of which 192,046 were taken in June 2000 and 92,055 in July 2000)

Monthly calls: From 1 August to 13 August there were 46,255 calls.

Busiest Day: The busiest day on record is 30 June 2000 with 19,197 calls.

Programme Assistance

Direct Assistance

Registered Suppliers: 11, 993 at 15,337 locations (as at 29 August)

Certificates issued: 1,926,063 (as at 29 August),

Organisation Delivered Assistance and Adviser Education Programme

Total courses delivered (to 30 June): 14, 019

Total number of participants (to 30 June):Over 1.1 million (estimated)

Courses Run and Planned from 30 June: Over 4,000 (as at 30 August)