COVID-19 Disaster Payment

Payment has been expanded and increased on 28 July 2021.

Victorian workers in lockdown in a Commonwealth hotspot (check current VIC hotspots here) will be eligible for:

• $450 (up from $375) for each relevant period where there has been a loss of either: (i) between 8 and less than 20 hours of work per week, or (ii) a full day of "usual work" hours per week.
• $750 (up from $600) for each relevant period for a loss of 20 hours or more of work per week.

Note: "A full day of usual work" is what an individual was scheduled to work, however could not because of a restricted movement order. This includes full time, part time or casual shift of less than 8 hours.

We note that the vast majority of Victorian microbusinesses (annual turnover < $75,000) not registered for GST will also be eligible for this Payment.

Administered by Service Australia at: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

• Available in all States and territories to residents who cannot work because they are required to self-isolate, or they are in quarantine.
• Residents are eligible for $1,500 for each 14-day period they are required to self-isolate or quarantine.

[NEW] Business Continuity Fund

The fund will deliver $5,000 grants to businesses that remain impacted by capacity limits due to public health restrictions.

The fund includes twenty-four eligible sectors.

Businesses located in the CBD will be eligible to receive an additional $2,000.

[NEW] Small Business COVID Hardship Fund

The fund will deliver grants of up to $5,000 to small businesses.



Eligibility:

• payroll of up to $10 million;
• has experienced a 70% or greater reduction in revenue; and
• the business has not been eligible under existing business support funds.

Support for Commercial Tenants and Landlords

The Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme has been reintroduced to provide rent relief for eligible tenants, while separate support will be provided to landlords who do the right thing by their tenants.

Eligibility:

• annual turnover of less than $50 million; and
• experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% due to coronavirus.



Landlords will be required to provide proportional rent relief in line with a business's reduction in turnover, by providing at least half of any sum of rent relief by a waiver.

Eligible Business Costs Assistance Package Round Two – Top-Up Payments

Businesses that successfully applied for this program which closed on 24 June will receive an automatic 'Top Up Payment' of $2,000.

On 21 July the VIC Government announced that Business Costs Assistance Program recipients will receive an automatic top up $2,800, increasing the total payment to $4,800.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 – Top-Up Payments

Businesses that received support under this program which closed on 24 June will receive an automatic 'Top Up Payment' of $3,000.

On 21 July the government announced that Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund program recipients will receive an automatic top up $4,200, increasing the total payment to $7,200.

To receive this funding, venues will need to have received or been eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021.

The program provided grants for eligible liquor licensees operating a restaurant, hotel, café, pub, bar, club, or reception centre registered to serve food and alcohol.

Alpine Business Support Program

Alpine Business Support will receive a further $9.8 million to deliver grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 to 430 Alpine based businesses in recognition of restricted inter and intra-state travel during the peak winter season.

The funding also includes $5 million support to alpine resort operators and management boards.

Public events and public events suppliers

A further round of the Impacted Public Events Support Program will open shortly.

Eligible public events and public events suppliers affected by the lockdown will receive support of up to $25,000 and $10,000 respectively through an extension of the Impacted Public Events Support Program.

Sporting Clubs Grants Program

The Sporting Clubs Grants Program will provide $2,000 grants for community sport and active recreation organisations for events unable to proceed.

Grants of $2,000 for Victorian sport and active recreation organisations with a payroll of up to $3 million, to compensate for irrecoverable costs greater than $2,000 arising directly from the cancellation or postponement of events during the lockdown from 11:59pm on Thursday 15 July to 27 July 2021.

Small Business Digital Adaptation Program

This program provides $1,200 rebates for small businesses to access a range of digital business tools to help build your website, improve your cash flow, start online marketing, manage your jobs and projects, and keep better track of stock.