Below you’ll find links to government websites so you can quickly and efficiently source the information relevant to you and your business.
NATIONAL
Whether you’re running a business with or without staff, start by checking Services Australia’s page covering payments, forms, services and information.
For individuals impacted by COVID-19, find out about government payments that may be available to you. Also, take a look at the COVID-19 Disaster Payment – a lump sum payment to help workers unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 lockdown. The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is available to individuals who cannot generate an income due to self-isolation orders or to care for dependents in self-isolation.
NSW
The NSW Government has announced an additional $3.9 billion in funding, including $1.5 billion from the Commonwealth, as part of its COVID-19 economic support package providing ongoing assistance to businesses and individuals affected by current lockdown restrictions across the State.
This additional funding will extend the successful JobSaver program and Microbusiness Grant and continue rent relief incentives.
Additional relief for businesses will also be provided with further reductions in payroll tax as well as allowing eligible businesses to defer their payroll tax payments, due from July 2021 through to December 2021, until 14 January 2022 with 12-month interest-free repayment plans to be available.
Extension of JobSaver from 28 August
- Eligible businesses with a turnover between $75,000 and $250 million that continue to experience a minimum 30% decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for payments of up to 40% of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll
- Eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism, and recreation sectors with a turnover of more than $250 million and up to $1 billion that continue to experience the requisite decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible to receive payments of 40% of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll, up to $500,000 per week
- Eligible Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisations in the social support and animal welfare sectors with a turnover between $75,000 and $250 million that show a minimum 15% decline in turnover will be eligible for payments of up to 40% of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll. Eligible NFPs will be able to apply from later in September to access backdated payments.
Extension of the COVID-19 Micro-business Grant from 28 August
- Eligible businesses with a turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000 that continue to experience a minimum 30% decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for a fortnightly payment of $1,500.
Extension of payroll tax deferrals and waivers
- Businesses eligible for a 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant or JobSaver with payrolls $10 million or less will be eligible for a 50% reduction (waiver) in their 2021-22 payroll tax, up from 25%.
- All businesses will also be able to further defer payroll tax payments due from July 2021 through to December 2021. The payments will now not be due until 14 January 2022, and 12-month interest-free repayment plans will become available.
Extension of support for commercial, retail, and residential landlords
- Eligible commercial and retail landlords that provide rental waivers to COVID19 impacted tenants and have not claimed land tax relief, will be eligible for a monthly grant of up to $3,000, and
- Eligible residential landlords can choose between applying for land tax relief or a further payment of $1,500, taking total assistance to a maximum of $4,500 per tenancy if they agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants by at least $4,500.
COVID disaster payments
The maximum COVID disaster payment is $750, while the payment for those working less than 20 hours is $450.
Support has also been extended to those who are on welfare payments such as Youth Allowance. They will be able to receive a weekly payment of $200 if they have lost more than eight hours of work a week.
Commercial tenancy protection
Landlords may not be able to take action such as eviction, if the impacted tenant breaches a retail or commercial lease due to the impacts of COVID-19. Tenants and landlords must once again renegotiate the terms of the lease, including rent. The period of protection has been extended to 13 January 2022.
NSW will introduce a Hardship Fund to provide incentives to landlords making concessions for commercial tenants. A monthly grant of up to $3,000 will be available to eligible small commercial or retail landlords who provide rental waivers of at least the value of the grant and (if eligible) any land tax relief.
Commercial landowners may apply for up to 100% of their land tax liability for 2021 if they have reduced rent for a tenant by at least the amount being claimed for any period between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021.
Other support and payments
A one-off support payment of $320 is available to eligible NSW workers who reside in the affected LGAs and are required to test and isolate immediately. The payment is designed to avoid potential transmission of the virus through workplaces when people do not get tested as soon as they are required or fail to follow the isolations rules. Read the guidelines including eligibility criteria and application process.
For more information on the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package click here.
Support for individuals impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders is also available through Services Australia.
Find out about help for small business including requesting a call from a Business Concierge. The COVID-19 Safety plan is required to keep your business on track with compliance, and if relevant, take a look at the Jobs Plus program.
General support is also available including telephone with translated services.
Keep up to date with NSW government COVID-19 updates.
For mental health and wellbeing refer to the recommended resources and organisations for support.
VICTORIA
A $2.34 billion jointly funded package by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments was announced on Saturday 4 September, to provide extended financial assistance to many businesses in Victoria. The statewide lockdown has been confirmed to continue until 70% of Victorians have had at least one dose of the vaccine – estimated to be around 23 September. The business support payments will cover a four-week period ending on Thursday 30 September.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund – applications open till 10 September / automatic payment for previous recipients
The extra allocation of funding means the grant amount has increased from $14,000 to $20,000. Businesses that have already received the one-off payment will receive an automatic top-up payment of $6,000.
The fund is available to small- and medium-sized eligible businesses across Victoria that have not qualified for existing support programs and have experienced a reduction in revenue by at least 70%.
Businesses that are legally allowed to operate but have been unable to generate revenue due to restrictions, for example a cafe located within a gym or a manufacturer unable to supply goods to businesses forced to shut, may be eligible for funding. Likewise, businesses that have lost customers due to a lack of foot traffic, for example pharmacists located in the CBD, could also be eligible. Applications are via Business Victoria.
Business Costs Assistance Program – automatic payment
Businesses in metropolitan Melbourne who previously received or are approved to receive the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension grant, will automatically receive payments.
- $2,800 a week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000
- $5,600 a week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million
- $8,400 for businesses with an annual payroll of $3 million to $10 million.
The program aims to allow businesses across multiple sectors to continue paying overheads and other costs despite impacts on revenue.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 – automatic payment
Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,0000 will be made to cover a four-week period ending on Thursday 30 September to more than 9,300 licensed hospitality venues that have previously received or been approved grants for this funding.
Payment amounts are based on tiers according to premises capacity:
- $5,000 – capacity of up to 99 patrons
- $10,000 – capacity of 100 to 499 patrons
- $20,000 – capacity of 500-plus.
Find out more on these business programs and funding.
Alpine Business Support Program – automatic payment
A support package to help sustain resorts through the remainder of the ski season and September school holidays with an automatic top-up payment of between $10,000 and $40,000, depending on business location and whether the business employs staff.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment – applications open
Eligible workers and individuals who run sole-trader businesses who lose work and do not qualify for Victorian government support programs may receive:
- $450 – people who have lost between eight and up to 20 hours of work or a full day of work (over seven days)
- $750 – people who have lost 20 hours or more of work.
Visit Services Australia for eligibility and application details.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SUPPORT
Business Continuity Fund
A $156 million Business Continuity Fund will be established to deliver $5,000 grants to up to about 30,000 businesses that remain impacted by capacity limits placed on businesses by necessary public health restrictions.
Twenty-four eligible sectors are covered by the fund including gyms, cafes, restaurants, catering services and hairdressers.
Businesses located in the CBD will continue to be impacted due to restrictions on the number of staff allowed in office buildings and will be eligible to receive an additional $2,000, recognising reduced foot traffic due to office density limits.
All recipients must have received or been eligible for the previous Business Cost Assistance Program.
Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme and Landlord Hardship Fund
The package, fully-funded by the Victorian government, will deliver $80 million to provide support to landlords that provide rent relief to their tenants.
The Commercial Tenancies Relief Scheme has been reinstated to provide much-needed rent relief to small to medium commercial tenants and their landlords. For details contact the Victorian Small Business Commission on 13 87 22.
Other support
The Victorian government is offering a range of ways to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. Learn about financial support for businesses and workers.
Find details about the Circuit Breaker Business Support Package announced in May 2021.
Discover other support available if you’re unable to operate your business due to restrictions.
If you prefer to talk to someone, the COVID-19 business support provides a hotline or you can leave your contact details for a return call. A language translation service is also available.
COVID-19 business information has links on restrictions and recovery support to help you plan and respond to the ever-changing landscape.
Your mental health and wellbeing are important. Discover support available to you.
QUEENSLAND
2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant
A joint Queensland and Australian government support package is available to eligible businesses impacted by lockdowns.
Packages include:
- $10,000 grant to employing small businesses and not-for-profit organisations (annual payroll less than $1.3 million)
- $15,000 grant to employing medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organisations (annual payroll between $1.3 million and $10 million)
- $30,000 grant to employing large-sized tourism and hospitality focused businesses and not-for-profit organisations (annual payroll more than $10 million).
Read more on eligibility and application details.
For non-employing sole traders
A $1,000 one-off grant is available to eligible Queensland-based non-employing sole traders who have experienced a decline in turnover of more than 30% due to the South East Queensland lockdown (that commenced 31 July 2021) or the Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown (that commenced 8 August 2021). Register your interest here or find out more details on the grant.
The federal government has announced financial support for South East Queenslanders impacted by the snap lockdown. The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is available to people who have lost:
- 20 hours or more of work – may be eligible to receive $750 per week
- between eight and 20 hours – may be eligible to receive $450.
Click for more information and note the page is being updated.
ACT
COVID-19 Business Support Grant
Joint funding support by the ACT and Australian governments will become available to businesses that have experienced at least 30% reduction in turnover in the period of Friday 13 August – Friday 20 August 2021 due to restricted trading conditions.
- $3,000 for employing businesses
- $1,000 for non-employing businesses.
Refer to the eligibility criteria.
COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme
Eligible small businesses will soon be able to apply to receive credits for payroll tax, utility charges, rates and other selected fees and charges up to a maximum of $10,000 per ABN. The scheme is for small businesses with an annual turnover between $30,000 and $10 million that have experienced a 30% loss in revenue. Read more here.
SA
The South Australian government has announced a Business Support Grant of $3,000 will be available to eligible small and medium businesses that suffer significant loss of income due to the lockdown, and $1,000 to eligible sole traders. Register your interest for the Business Support Grant.
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment provides financial Support for South Australians who were unable to work due to the public health order restrictions from 21 July to 27 July 2021.
COVID-19 business information and support has a wealth of information including financial support for South Australian businesses, ways to support staff and practical advice and tips.
It’s important to look after your mental health and wellbeing. Please access the programs and resources available to you and stay safe.
TASMANIA
The Tasmanian and Australian governments will pump $20 million for businesses struggling with the ongoing impacts due to border closures.
The package is targeted at businesses operating in tourism, hospitality, arts and events, seafood and transport sectors and others directly impacted by reduced interstate travel.
Financial support of between $2,000 and $10,000 will be available to eligible businesses that have experienced a 30% decline in turnover. Click here for details.
