NSW COVID-19 statistics
NSW recorded 35 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night from 58,373 tests. 33 cases are linked to a known case or cluster, and 20 are household contacts of previous cases. 24 of the new cases were isolating for their entire infectious period, and four cases were isolating for part of the infectious period. More information, including venues and transport routes of concern, check here.

More NSW communities eligible to claim COVID-19 disaster payment from today
Claims can now be made for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment for those eligible in the Commonwealth declared hotspots areas of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong. The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is to help NSW workers who have lost their income due to the health restrictions. More information on how to claim the payments other available supports is available here.

National Cabinet statement
The National Cabinet met on Friday and released a plan to transition Australia out of the pandemic. The phases of the plan will be triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds. Under the current stage, Australia will temporarily reduce commercial inbound passenger arrivals by 50 per cent from current caps by 14 July to reduce the pressure on quarantine facilities. Read the Plan and the National Cabinet statement here.

Latest edition of the Court of Appeal’s Decisions of Interest bulletin
The Decisions of Interest bulletin is a regular publication produced by the Court of Appeal, summarising appellate decisions from Australia and internationally. Read the latest bulletin here.

Debt management services
From 1 July 2021 new laws require providers of debt management services to hold a credit licence with an authorisation to provide these services. Lawyers who hold out or advertise to consumers that they are able to provide debt management services will need to hold a credit licence to engage in such activities (unless they comply with the requirements under the transitional arrangements). See the ASIC information sheet.

Final stage of the eConveyancing mandate and the abolition of certificates of title
The Registrar General has declared under Rule 8.8 of the NSW Conveyancing Rules the remaining list of electronic dealings as ‘Required Dealings’. This means that from 11 October 2021 paper dealings will no longer be accepted for lodgment and only electronic dealings will be accepted. The Registrar General has also declared that 11 October 2021 is the day on which all certificates of title (CTs) will be abolished, known as ‘cessation day’. From cessation day all current CTs have no legal effect and the Registrar General will no longer issue CTs. Read more. 

First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) Update
From the 1st of August 2020 to 31st of July 2021 the NSW Government increased the FHBAS transfer (stamp) duty thresholds for the purchase of new homes and vacant land. From the 1st of August 2021, the FHBAS thresholds will revert to the previous parameters. Read more about the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme.

Legal Aid NSW: Increased fees in state law matters
The Legal Aid NSW Board has approved an increase in fees paid to private practitioners in state law matters from 1 July 2021. The base hourly rate for solicitors has increased from $160 to $170. Other fees such as counsel fees have increased by 6.25 per cent. For details, see Policy Bulletin 2021 No. 4.