Circuit Breaker Support Package explained
The Circuit Breaker Business Support Package provided funds to small and medium sized businesses, including sole traders who were impacted by the latest lockdown in Victoria.
It is important to note the announced doubling of the grants has been clarified, and only businesses in metro Melbourne who remain in lockdown will receive the doubled amount. There is an exception for industries in regional Victoria who still cannot operate in the eased restrictions to also receive the higher value grant. All other eligible regional Victorian businesses will receive the original grant amount.
Businesses can only receive a grant from either the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021, not both. If you submit applications to both programs and are found to be eligible under both programs, you will only receive one grant.
Applications are now closed.
We have outlined the new details below.
Business costs assistance program
Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment of $2,500 or $5,000. A further $2,000 top-up payment will be available to businesses in metropolitan Melbourne that are closed due to extended restrictions announced Wednesday 9 June 2021. This takes the total amount available for eligible businesses to $7,000.
Grant amounts:
The grant amount payable to an eligible business is determined by:
1. the business’ industry sector (see Eligible ANZSIC classes)
2. the business’ location:
- businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $2,500
- businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 and further restrictions from 4 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $5,000.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, businesses must:
- be located within Victoria
- operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for this program
- have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate remotely
- 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 Thursday 27 May 2021
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at Thursday 27 May 2021
- be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.
Employing businesses must also:
- be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- 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 circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.
Not-for-profit organisations that are not registered for GST and have an annual turnover between $75,000 and $150,000 can apply for a grant. To be eligible, your organisation must meet all other eligibility criteria.
Applications are now closed.
For all the information you need for your application, frequently asked questions and for all other guidelines click the button below.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
Businesses who hold an eligible liquor licence and food certificate may receive a $3,500 or $7,000 grant per premises.
Eligible liquor licensees under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payment will be emailed directly by Business Victoria with a link to their grant application form.
Grant amounts:
- eligible businesses will receive $3,500 per premises in regional Victoria
- eligible businesses will receive $7,000 per premises in metropolitan Melbourne.
Eligibility:
Liquor licensees who have received their application form link from Business Victoria are eligible to apply.
To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must also:
- operate a licensed bar, restaurant, pub, club, hotel, café or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol (Premises) located in Victoria on 27 May 2021
- hold a general or late night (general), full club, restaurant and cafe, producer’s or on-premises or late night (on-premises) liquor licence as of 27 May 2021
- provide a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 that is valid in 2021 for serving food on the same premises
- be registered for goods and services tax (GST) on 27 May 2021
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 27 May 2021
- be registered with the responsible Commonwealth or Victorian regulator.
Please note: Businesses who hold a food certificate but do not hold a liquor licence are not eligible for a grant under this program. Businesses who hold a liquor licence but do not have a food certificate for the same premises are also not eligible for a grant under this program.
Applications are now closed.
Identifying metro Melbourne restricted postcodes
If your business is required to check IDs for guests entering the premises, CLICK HERE for a tool to help your team identify metropolitan Melbourne postcodes.
Victorian Events Support Package
This package is dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit breaker restrictions.
The following three streams of the package are now open for applications:
- the Independent Cinema Support Program which will deliver up to $12,000 to eligible independent cinema operators.
- the Live Performance Support Program (Presenters) which will deliver up to $7000 to eligible live performance event presenters.
- the Live Performance Support Program (Suppliers) which will support eligible suppliers of goods and services involved with live performance events, including musicians and performers, with grants of $500 per event where the events they were contracted to support could not proceed.
The package also includes:
- the Sustainable Events Business Program which provides grants of up to $250,000 by Expression of Interest to eligible major event organisers, hosts and suppliers
- the Impacted Public Events Support Program which delivers grants of up to $25,000 to eligible event organisers and up to $10,000 to eligible suppliers, by invite only.
Applications for all of the above support are now open and close at 11:59pm Friday 16 July 2021.
For more information on each of the support measures including full eligibility criteria and how to apply, click the button below.
Temporary COVID disaster payment
The Federal Government has announced a national plan to provide Commonwealth support to people who are in Coronavirus hotspots.
Being named as a “temporary COVID disaster payment”, it will apply if a lockdown lasts longer than a week and coincides with a federally designated hotspot.
What is it:
- $500 for people who ordinarily work more than 20 hours a week
- $325 for people who ordinarily work less than 20 hours a week.
Eligibility:
An individual will be eligible for these payments if they:
- have been in a lockdown that exceeds seven days
- live or work in a declared COVID-19 hotspot. Hotspot eligibility will be determined by the Federal Government, not State Government.
- Immediately prior to the lockdown, they are engaged in paid employment and unable to attend work and therefore unable to earn an income
- are aged 17 and over
- have liquid assets of less than $10,000
- are not receiving any other income support payment or pandemic payment
- are Australian citizens, residents or visa holders with a right to work here.
Individuals will be required to apply for the assistance and declare they meet the requirements through Services Australia.
Please note: Regional Victorian areas will not be eligible for this support at the moment due to lockdown easing.
Details of who will pay for the support will be finalised in an upcoming national cabinet meeting, but the Prime Minister said either the Commonwealth will cover wages support for workers while the relevant state or territory provides money to businesses, or they can equally share the cost for both.
