Additional support for ACT

The Federal and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Governments have announced they will extend the COVID-19 Business Support Grants and deliver an additional COVID-19 Tourism, Accommodation Provider, Arts and Events and Hospitality Grant.

There will be an additional ACT COVID-19 Business Grant Extension payment of $10,000 for all employing businesses and $3,750 for non‑employing businesses. It will be automatically paid to all businesses who were eligible for the COVID‑19 Business Support Grant in industries still significantly impacted by the health restrictions. Additional one‑off top‑up payments will also be made for larger businesses.

 COVID-19 Tourism, Accommodation Provider, Arts and Events and Hospitality Grant will be provided at the following rates:

• $1,000 for non‑employing businesses
• $3,000 for employing businesses with turnover less than $2 million
• $10,000 for employing businesses with turnover greater than $2 million and less than $5 million
• $20,000 for employing businesses with turnover greater than $5 million.

The eligibility criteria will match the eligibility criteria for the COVID‑19 Business Support Grant. Details are still being finalised and these payments will not be administered until October.

To support ACT in lockdown, the ACT Government has also announced it will extend and expand a range of financial support measures including land tax and commercial rates relief for landlords.

Support for Qld businesses on NSW border

The Federal and Queensland Governments have announced a jointly funded $52.8 million emergency support package to help Queensland businesses suffering due to the border restrictions with NSW and to provided targeted support to tourism and hospitality businesses facing significant hardship. The package includes:

• $40 million for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program to provide one off grants of $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 for small, medium and large employing businesses across the state that have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent for at least seven consecutive days between 1 July and 30 September
• $6.3 million to extend the existing COVID-19 Business Support Grants program
• $6.5 million to provide one-off Hardship Scheme grants of $5000 for employing businesses and $1000 for non-employing sole traders to recipients of the COVID-19 Business Support Grants in the border zone in the event of an extended border closure. The Hardship Scheme grants will be available from mid-October 2021.

Further support for SA businesses

The Federal and South Australian Governments have announced a new jointly funded package to support eligible businesses impacted by ongoing COVID-19 trading restrictions and border closures. 

The package includes:

• A new COVID-19 Tourism and Hospitality Support Grant for businesses in eligible tourism and hospitality sectors (and other sectors such as performing arts, creative artists, taxis and car rental) that have already received the COVID-19 Additional Business Support Grant
• A new COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant of $6,000 for employing businesses with annual payrolls below $10 million and $2,000 for non-employing businesses who have experienced a minimum 50% reduction in turnover over the eligible period and haven’t been eligible for previous business grant support since July 2021
• The Major Events Support Grant has been increased up to $100,000 for large events,

Support package for Tasmanian businesses

The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have announced a jointly funded expansion of the business support program to support businesses impacted by border closures. The existing Business Support Package will be boosted from $20 million to $50 million to eligible businesses across two funding rounds, first in October and the second in November. 

To reduce the burden on businesses to access the additional payments, those whose applications were successful in either initial Border Closure Grant program or the existing program, will automatically receive the additional payment. Eligible businesses whose applications are currently being assessed also do not need to make any changes because the funding request will be automatically updated to include the additional payments. Applications are now open and close 2pm Friday 8 October.

The Tasmanian Government will also provide around $20 million in financial relief for eligible businesses through waiving fees and charges such as payroll tax, vehicle registration and passenger transport accreditation fees, and license fees payable to Parks & Wildlife.