COVID-19

We acknowledge that the coronavirus pandemic is causing uncertainty across the country and we are working hard behind the scenes to stay up-to-date with government announcements and how this will impact our clients and society as a whole. We will continue to publish newsletters with updated information and provide you with access to resources published by government departments. We invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated with these events. 

Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package

Lockdown Five - New Business Support and Financial Assistance for Victoria

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
The latest support extension means eligible Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund recipients will now be able to receive an additional $4,200, taking the total support payment to $7,200. 

For all eligibility and application information, click here

Business Costs Assistance Program 

Recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program will also now be eligible for an additional $2,800, increasing the total grant to $4,800. 

For all eligibility and application information, click here

Alpine business support 

As Lockdown Five has come at the worst time for alpine businesses, alpine hospitality, retail, accommodation, and experience operators that were eligible for grants of up to $15,000 will receive an additional $3,000 - on top of any entitlements under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund or Business Costs Assistance Program. 

Impacted Public Events Support Program 

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

For all eligibility and application information, click here

This is an invitation-only program for events registered under the Public Events Framework. 

Live Performance Support Programs 

A new round of the Live Performance Support programs, with funding of up to $7,000 for presenters and up to $2,000 for suppliers, has also been announced. 

For all eligibility and application information; presenters click here and suppliers click here

Sporting Clubs Grants Program 

A new round of the Sporting Clubs Grants Program will provide community sport and active recreation organisations $2,000 grants for events that have been unable to proceed or will have to be cancelled or postponed. The funding as part of this grant is only available to organisations that are not eligible to seek funding from the Business Costs Assistance Program. 

For all eligibility and application information, click here.

On 16 July, the Federal Government announced that Victorian workers would be able to access a COVID-19 Disaster Payment to ease the financial burden through Lockdown Five. 

According to the Victorian government, discussions between the State and Federal Governments have confirmed most microbusinesses not registered for GST will soon be eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment of $600 or $375 per seven-day period. The Victorian Government is planning to establish a concierge service to help these businesses access this support. 

All workers must meet all the eligibility criteria* outlined below to access the support payment: 

• you are an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia 
• you are 17 years or older 
• you are not getting an income support payment, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay or Parental Leave Pay 
• you are not getting the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, a state or territory pandemic payment or a state small business payment for the same period 
• you have lost income and don't have any appropriate paid leave entitlements 

*Note: the liquid assets rule no longer applies 

Victorian workers must also meet the following criteria: 

• you live in, work from or have visited a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot that is subject to a State-restricted movement order, or you live in or work from other areas of Victoria 
• you were unable to earn your usual income of 8 hours or more or a full day's work because you were in the COVID-19 hotspot and are subject to restricted movement or you live or work from other areas of Victoria. 

According to the Services Australia website, claims for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be open from 23 July until 19 August 2021 and claims will be covered from Friday 16 July. 

For those that have been forced to quarantine, you may be eligible for the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.

10 August 2021
A friendly reminder that businesses who have not previously received the business costs assistance grant have until Friday 13 August 2021 to apply for the current grant of $4,800.00.

For further details, please visit Business Victoria - Business Costs Assistance Program Roun Two July Extension.

Eligible businesses that do not qualify for Victorian Government support programs because they are not registered for GST may be eligible for the Commonwealth's COVID-19 Disaster Payment. 

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund

An additional $54 million will be added to the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund announced last week, allowing grants of up to $8000 to be paid to small businesses that are not eligible for support under existing programs and have experienced a 70% reduction in turnover.

We are still waiting on further info regarding this grant. 

17 August 2021
The Victorian Government has released details of the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund; a grant of $10,000 to assist eligible small and medium businesses that are ineligible for other key Victorian Government grants.

To be eligible for the grant, businesses must:

• be located within Victoria;
• as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions since 27 May 2021 have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period comparable to a benchmark period in 2019;
• have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis;
• have been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 28 July 2021;
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 28 July 2021; and
• be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.

Employing businesses must also:

• be registered with WorkSafe Victoria; and
• attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the COVID-19 restrictions, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

As the decline in turnover has to be a direct consequence of the Covid-19 restrictions (i.e. lockdowns), we do not believe that many clients will legitimately qualify for this grant. As an example, it would be hard for tradies to qualify when they weren't shut down (or the restrictions had little effect). Of course, each business can be different, so the general example used here might not exactly apply to your situation.

Businesses that have received funding under any of the Victorian Government COVID-19 support packages launched on or after 27 May 2021 are not eligible for a grant under this program.

Applications close on Friday 10 September 2021.

Summary of the information you need

You must demonstrate a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period since 27 May 2021 as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, comparable to a benchmark period in 2019.

Businesses should compare their best consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2019, with their worst consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2021.

When applying for this grant you will need:

• to demonstrate a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period since 27 May 2021 as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, comparable to a benchmark period in 2019
• businesses should compare their best consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2019, with their worst consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2021
• endorsement of the reduction in turnover by a qualified agent (qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent)
• you may be required to provide evidence including a sales report, financial statement and/or a Business Activity Statement (BAS) to demonstrate the reduction in turnover
• a valid proof of identity document (Australian driver licence, Australian Passport, Medicare Card or Australian visa information and foreign passport).
• Your application must be verified by a qualified agent (qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent) by attaching the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund - Letter from the Qualified Agent - template.

Please contact our office if you need to apply for the grant and obtain a verification letter to support your application.