What do you need to know?
What restrictions are in place?
Greater Sydney Lockdown
Due to the escalation in cases over the past week in New South Wales, greater Sydney’s lockdown will be extended a further four weeks until Saturday, 28 August 2021.
If you live or work in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you need to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
People must stay within their Local Government Areas or within 10kms of home if they leave for any of the essential reasons.
The necessary reasons to leave home still include sourcing essential supplies, care and caregiving, outdoor exercise in groups of fewer than 2, and work not able to be done from home. However, you can now only shop for essential goods within 10km of your home, or within your local government area.
Only one person per household per day may leave the home for shopping.
8 LGAs unable to leave for work
The following LGAs are unable to leave for work unless you are an authorised worker, healthcare worker or aged care worker:
- Fairfield
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Liverpool
- Cumberland
- Blacktown
- Paramatta
- George’s River
- Campbelltown
People in these 8 LGA hotspots must wear masks everywhere outside of their homes, and from 12:01am Friday 30 July 2021, can only move within 5km from home (this includes singles bubbles).
Restrictions will be slightly eased in Fairfield, with only aged care and health care workers leaving the LGA for work required to get tested every three days.
However, every single worker who leaves Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, must now get tested every 3 days. See rules for testing.
An authorised worker can attend work at any of the retail or hospitality venues listed above.
You can go to work in the same local government area you live in if
- you live and work in the Fairfield, Liverpool, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland or Blacktown local government areas
- the business is allowed to be open
- you cannot work from home.
Hunter Valley Region 7-Day Lockdown
From 5pm on Thursday, 5 August 2021, stay at home rules apply to people who live in or are temporarily staying in the Newscastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook local government areas in NSW, until 11.59pm on Thursday, 12 August 2021.
The only reason to leave your home during this period for one of the five reasons: sourcing essential supplies, authorised work or education, care and caregiving, exercise and to get vaccinated. The NSW Health Department has also released a list of other reasonable excuses.
Exercise can only take place within your Local Government Area or 10km of your home, and you can exercise with one other person that you do not live with. If you live with more than two other people, you can all go out together for exercise.
The conditions of the lockdown will be the same as the lockdown affecting Greater Sydney.
Masks will need to be worn everywhere except in your own homes and no visitors are allowed in homes unless it is for a reasonable excuse.
Retail trade restrictions
Retail food services including pubs, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets are not permitted to trade except to offer takeaway or home delivery services. Cinemas, entertainment venues and casinos, and beauty therapy services including hairdressers, nail salons, and massage parlours, are also not permitted to open.
The Health Minister directs that retail premises must not be open to members of the public in the affected LGAs, except for the following retail premises:
- supermarkets and grocery shops, including neighbourhood supermarkets and neighbourhood shops,
- shops that predominantly sell food or drinks, Example. This includes butchers, bakeries, fruit shops and delicatessens, but does not include restaurants or cafes.
- chemists and pharmacies,
- kiosks,
- shops that predominately sell any of the following— (i) office supplies, (ii) pet supplies, (iii) newspapers, magazines and stationery, (iv) alcohol, (v) maternity and baby supplies, (vi) medical or pharmaceutical supplies,
- food and drink premises and cellar door premises, but only for the purpose of home delivery or takeaway services,
- hardware and building supplies,
- landscaping material supplies,
- rural supplies,
- timber yards,
- garden centres and plant nurseries,
- vehicle hire premises, not including the premises at which vehicles are sold,
- shops that predominately carry out repairs of mobile phones.
Note: Service stations, banks, post offices, laundromats and dry cleaners are not retail premises and can remain open.
Retail premises are not prevented from opening for the purposes of selling goods by:
- a "click and collect" service, where a person buys, returns or exchanges goods by telephone or online and then attends the premises to collect, exchange or return the goods or;
- delivering goods to a persons place of residence or other premises after the person has bought the goods by telephone or online.
Face masks for Greater Sydney
In Greater Sydney, when you leave home, you must carry a face mask with you at all times.
You must wear a face mask:
- in all indoor areas of non-residential premises
- at certain outdoor gatherings
- if you are on public transport
- in a major recreation facility such as a stadium
- if you are working in a hospitality venue
- in indoor and outdoor areas of construction sites, except when an exemption applies such as when
- wearing a face mask creates a safety issue or
- there is a worksite emergency
- when working in an outdoor area.
Face masks must be worn at indoor or outdoor areas of a fresh food market including:
- Sydney Markets at Flemington Markets
- Sydney Fish Markets.
Harsher fines for employers forcing employees to work at offices
From 12:01am Wednesday, 21 July, any employers who are found to be forcing their employees to come into the office, where they should be working from home, may be handed out an on the spot fine of $10,000. The message is office workers should be working from home wherever possible.
QR Codes mandatory for retail
Use of the Service NSW QR code will be mandatory at all workplaces and retail businesses from Monday 12 July. New locations include:
- Retail businesses and supermarkets
- Individual shops within shopping centres
- Shopping centres display QR codes at entry points
- Gyms
Set up your QR Code by visiting the NSW Government website HERE. If you need help setting up your code, phone our hotline at 1800 RETAIL and press 4.
Restrictions now in place for NSW areas outside of lockdown zones
In areas not encompassed by the lockdown, the following restrictions are in place:
- No more than 5 visitors in the house
- Hospitality venues may provide seated service only
- One person per 4sqm rule is in place at hospitality venues
- Mask wearing is mandatory at all indoor venues outside the home.
If you have been in the affected areas in the past 14 days, you are subject to the stay at home provisions.
Restrictions Update
From 4pm Saturday, 31 July 2021, the 11 local government areas currently under mask restrictions will go into a hard lockdown until 4pm Sunday, 8 August 2021. This includes the areas of:
- City of Brisbane
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- City of Gold Coast
- City of Ipswich
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Logan City
- Noosa Shire Council
- Redland City
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
- Somerset Regional Council
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Everyone in these areas are urged to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, with only four essential reasons to leave home are:
- To obtain essential goods, but only within 10km of your home,
- To carry out essential work, school and childcare (school and childcare is only for essential workers or vulnerable families),
- To exercise with only one other person not from your household, and only within 10km of your local area,
- To obtain healthcare, to care for someone who needs assistance, to get your COVID vaccination or to get a COVID-19 test.
Further to the above, further restrictions will apply:
- There will be no visitors to homes within those 11 LGAs.
- Funerals and weddings will be restricted to 10 people within those 11 LGAs.
Restrictions on businesses
Retail businesses, other than food retailing businesses, are not restricted businesses for the purposes of the SEQ lockdown which is in place until 4:00pm on Sunday, 8 August 2021.
Retail food services including pubs, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets are not permitted to trade except to offer takeaway or home delivery services. Food courts will close however, retail food services operating within a food court can offer take away or home delivery services.
Gyms, cinemas, hairdressers, entertainment centres and places of worship will all be closed.
Essential workers are able to travel more than 10km to their place of work.
Mask mandates
Face masks must be carried at all times when outside of the house if you live in Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, and Scenic Rim until Sunday 8 August.
Moreover, face masks must be worn:
- in any indoor place other than your own home;
- on public transport or waiting for public transport;
- in, or waiting for, a taxi or rideshare vehicle;
- in any outdoor space where physical distancing is not possible.
You must wear a mask at all times outside your home if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Children 12 years and under and people affected by a medical condition are exempt.
You also do not need to wear a mask at an indoor workplace provided that you can maintain physical distancing, unless you are otherwise required to wear a mask (for example, workers at food retail business must wear a mask if interacting with customers).
Check In Qld App
In addition to the hospitality sector, from 1am Friday 9 July, the Check In Qld app will be mandatory for a number of new sectors.
We note that our list is more prescriptive than what is currently on the Check In Qld app page – this list is what is outlined in the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction. Businesses within a shopping centre require a QR code, and customers need to check in at the shopping centre and each business within the centre.
This includes:
- Retail food services including cafes, restaurants and fast-food outlets. This covers operations that may be part of another business, e.g. a restaurant in a casino or a café in a gallery, or a bar or restaurant at a theme park
- Pubs, licensed clubs, RSL clubs, function centres, bars, wineries, distilleries and microbreweries and licensed premises in hotels
- Venues that attract large crowds, such as stadiums, convention centres, theme parks, concert venues, nightclubs and cinemas
- Shopping centres
- Department stores
- Pharmacies
- Supermarkets, grocers, bakeries, butcher’s shops, fishmongers
- Convenience stores, delicatessens
- Post offices
- Customer service branches of insurers, hardware stores, furniture stores, electrical stores, recreational goods stores, clothing and footwear stores, newsagents, a part of a place engaged in agriculture or industry which sells to the public the produce or products of the business, and indoor and outdoor food, craft or other markets.
- beauty and personal care service, such as hairdressing, beauty therapy and nail services
- indoor events, such as cultural festival and expos
- outdoor events, such as fun runs and fetes
- leisure and recreation facilities, such as gyms, health clubs, indoor sports facilities and indoor pools
- short-term residential facilities such as hotels, boarding houses and short-term holiday rentals
- outdoor recreation, such as caravan parks, camping areas, zoos and aquariums
- public-facing government services, such as customer service counters in government buildings, galleries, museums, libraries and community centres such as recreation halls
- weddings, funerals and places of worship (only required if indoor)
- higher education institutions, such as universities, TAFEs and registered training organisations
- adult entertainment venues
- hospitals, residential aged care, disability service accommodation (applies to visitors, volunteers and contractors, not staff or patients/residents).
The Victorian Government has announced that all of Victoria will enter a stage four lockdown, lasting seven days from 8pm Thursday, 5 August, 2021 until 8pm Thursday, 12 August 2021. This lockdown has the same restrictions as the previous one.
This means that from 8pm Wednesday, 5 August, there are only five reasons to leave home:
- Getting the food and supplies you need,
- Exercising for up to two hours,
- Care or caregiving,
- Authorized work or education if you cannot do it from home,
- To get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.
Shopping and exercise must be done within 5km of your home or the nearest location.
Face masks will remain mandatory indoors (not at home) and outdoors unless an exception applies – this includes all workplaces and secondary schools.
Private gatherings are not permitted except for an intimate partner or nominated person visits. Public gatherings are not permitted, and exercise is limited to two people.
Childcare and Early Childhood Care will remain open. Schools will close, with primary and secondary school students returning to remote learning – except for vulnerable children, and the children of authorised workers who can learn on site.
There are no changes to the current arrangements for border communities.
Retail Trade Restrictions During Lockdown
Non-essential retail will not be permitted to open. Essential providers are classed as:
- a supermarket, grocery store, bakery, butcher, fruit and vegetable store or fishmonger
- an indoor or outdoor market, but only to obtain groceries or fresh food
- a restaurant, café, pub, bar or hotel, whether licensed or unlicensed, but only to the extent that: (a) it provides takeaway meals or drinks or a meal delivery service; or (b) it provides food or drink to the homeless
- a bottle shop
- a financial institution
- consular and diplomatic services; or g. court, tribunal or commission services
- a post office
- a news agent
- a pharmacy
- a petrol station (including a petrol station that sells groceries)
- vehicle and mechanical repair services
- a pet store or veterinary clinic
- urgent services necessary for the health and safety of any person, animal or premises
- essential child protection activities
- a childcare or family day care provider
- a school, but only to the extent that education services are provided to the child of an essential worker or to vulnerable children
- a ‘click and collect’ service.
If you work at an essential provider, you are classified as an essential worker and can attend work.
NSW Cross Border Bubble restrictions
The City of Wagga Wagga, Hay Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council and Murrumbridge Council will no longer be included in the cross border bubble. These areas will be added to the Extreme Risk Zone from 11:59pm Tuesday, 27 July 2021, in line with the rest of NSW and residents will need a Specified Worker Permit, transit permit, or an exemption to enter Victoria.
Support packages
Find out more about recently announced support packages here.
Face masks
Face masks are mandatory indoors (not at home) for anyone aged 12 and above, unless an exception applies. This includes all workplaces and secondary schools.
Checking-in
You must check-in everywhere you visit using the Service Victoria QR , no matter how long you spend at that location.
Transitional restrictions in effect for Perth and Peel
Transitional restrictions are in effect from 12.01am Tuesday, 6 July 2021 until 12.01am Monday, 12 July 2021 for Perth and Peel, as we continue our safe and sensible pathway to pre-lockdown life.
People should return to work unless they are vulnerable, and mask-wearing requirements remain in place.
Regional travel is permitted with mask-wearing requirements, except to remote Aboriginal communities.
Business and venues
- 150 patron limit and 2sqm rule for:
- Hospitality
- Beauty/hairdressing
- Public venues (swimming pools, recreation centres, outdoor playgrounds, museums)
- Fitness venues (gyms, pilates, yoga, dance studios). Indoor and outdoor fitness classes permitted, masks mandatory except when doing vigorous exercise
- Nightclubs
- Places of worship.
- Maximum 50 per cent capacity for:
- Major stadiums, including Optus Stadium, RAC Arena and HBF Park
- Seated entertainment venues for performances at theatres, concert halls, and cinemas
Who is required to wear a mask?
In the affected regions face masks must be worn indoors, on public transport, and outdoors if social distancing cannot be observed.
Specifically, face masks must be worn in the following settings
- shopping (retail, supermarkets and shopping centres)
- on public/shared transport and waiting areas for public/shared transport
- weddings and funerals
- while waiting for takeaway food
- at workplaces.
Children 12 years and under and people affected by a medical condition are exempt.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind all members that while you must take reasonable steps to advise customers to wear a mask in your store (ie signage, staff on entrance) it is not the responsibility of retailers to enforce these rules. Should a customer refuse this lawful direction, please refer the matter to security or police.
Who has to keep a contact register?
To help with contact tracing and to keep WA safe, a number of businesses will need to maintain a contact register.
This includes takeaway services, retailers and private or commercial buses or vessels that carry 20 or more passengers, and where different groups of people interact at any time.
The list of business required to maintain a contact register includes:
- food and licensed venues (restaurants, takeaway services, food courts, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs)
- retailers (supermarkets, department stores, pharmacies, hardware and general retailers) and the retail components of other businesses (bank branches, post offices, manufacturing showrooms)
- gyms, indoor sporting centres, wellness centres, health clubs and fitness centres
- indoor play centres
- saunas and bathhouses
- swimming pool, both indoors and outdoors
- places of worship, and funeral parlours
- beauty and personal care services (hairdressers, barbers, nail salons, tattoo parlours, spa and massage parlours)
- galleries and museums
- cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues (casino, gaming or gambling venues)
- motor vehicles or boats which are capable of carrying 12 or more passengers and is used on a commercial basis for a party, tour or function
- auction houses and real estate inspections
- community facilities, libraries and halls
- zoos and amusement parks
- function centres
- hotels, motels, campgrounds or other accommodation facilities that ordinarily have check-in arrangements
- boarding schools or residential colleges (not including residents)
- adult entertainment premises (strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues)
- venues where events are held and certain outdoor functions and gatherings under 500 people (e.g. weddings, corporate functions, carnival, fetes, festivals, markets, funerals/memorial services).
- public and private hospitals (visitors only – persons visiting patients or attending meetings/lectures, couriers, and contractors)
SafeWA
The WA Government has developed a free app, SafeWA, which assists businesses to keep their contact register system in an easy and convenient manner.
SafeWA can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
More information on how to use the SafeWA app and troubleshooting tips are also available for businesses and venues.
Restrictions lifted from 1pm on Friday, 9 July.
No restrictions on the reasons to leave home for Greater Darwin or Alice Springs but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
Face masks
- Face masks must be worn in public when you cannot maintain a physical distance of 1.5m.
- Wear a mask at places like the supermarket, shopping centre, the hairdresser and beauty salons. Wear a mask when out for dinner but it can be removed when seated and eating and drinking.
- Masks are not required at work where physical distancing of 1.5m can be applied.
- Workers who come into close contact with patrons, or who work in environments where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be applied will need to wear a mask. This includes people who work in retail, hospitality, the beauty sector and customer service industries.
- Masks must be worn on public transport, taxis and ride-share services
Businesses
- All businesses can open except for nightclubs, strip clubs and personal services.
- All businesses and places where customers and clients visit must use a check-in system, like The Territory Check-In App and be able to comply with physical distancing and mask wearing requirements.
- Hospitality venues are open for seated service only. Patrons will be required to wear a mask when they go to the bar to order but this can be removed when seated and eating and drinking.
- Tourism businesses are able to operate. Check-in, physical distancing and mask wearing applies.
Check-in everywhere, every time
The Territory Check-In App will become mandatory for use in all NT businesses, shopping centres, venues and events. Pen and paper will still be permitted. You will be required to check in everywhere you go, no matter how long you spend at that location.
- Check in using The Territory Check-In App or other systems everywhere you go, no matter how long you are there for.
- Using a check-in system allows our health teams to quickly undertake contact tracing and do the critical work they need to in the case of an outbreak.
- All businesses and places where customers and clients visit need to use a check-in system, like The Territory Check-In App.
- We will be working with businesses in the coming days and our Business Champions will be there to support you.
- For more information on Territory Check-In App or to register your business.
Restrictions and responsibilities
Premier Steven Marshall has announced a 7-day lockdown for South Australia from 6pm on Tuesday, 20 July 2021 until midnight Tuesday, 27 July.
The state will move to Level 5 Public Activity restrictions:
- 1 per 4sqm density limit
- Stay at home unless leaving for one of the five essential reasons; essential work, providing healthcare for a vulnerable person, essential shopping, medical reasons (including vaccination and testing) or to exercise
- Mandatory mask use when outside the home.
- Closure of community activities.
- Masks are essential in all high-risk indoor settings (except school and offices), on public transport and outside where social distancing is not possible.
From 12:01am Wednesday, 28 July 2021, the state will be easing restrictions:
- Hospitality, retail, construction and all business to reopen
- Density limit of 1 person per 4 sqm
- Seated food and beverage consumption (indoors and outdoors)
- Home and private gatherings maximum 10 people (including
household members) - Weddings and funerals maximum 50 people
- Masks required for:
- High-risk settings, health care services, personal care
services and on passenger transport services - Strongly recommended in other settings where you cannot
socially distance
- High-risk settings, health care services, personal care
- Gyms can reopen with 1 person per 8 sqm
- Schools to reopen.
From 12:01am Thursday, 5 August 2021, the state will be further easing some restrictions:
- Density limit increases to 50% capacity, a 1 per 2 sqm limit.
- Gyms will move to a 1 per 4sqm density limit.
Non-essential retail
Under South Australia’s Level 5 restrictions, the following places are deemed essential retail and are permitted to open:
- a grocery store, supermarket, butcher, bakery, fruit and vegetable store or fishmonger , including delivery services associated with such stores;
- an indoor or outdoor market, but only for the purpose of the sale of groceries or fresh food and not for the purposes of the sale or supply of food or
beverages prepared on site (whether for consumption on site or take away); - a restaurant, café, bar, hotel, club or winery but only for the purposes of the provision of takeaway food or beverages or a meal delivery service;
- a bottle shop;
- financial institution;
- a post office;
- newsagent;
- pharmacy;
- hardware store;
- petrol station;
- distribution centre;
- retail good workers supporting the operation of online or phone ordering and collection or delivery of retail orders;
- a pet store;
- a veterinary clinic and related services (such as on farm visits and animal care services), where a genuine animal welfare issue exists or for the
purpose of artificial insemination of an animal; - an abattoir, meat, seafood or poultry processing plant.
Personal care services such as hairdressers, barbershops, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, wellness centres/day spas/massage parlours, saunas/bathhouses and any other place which beauty therapy/tanning/waxing/piercing/body modification takes place not permitted.
COVID SAfe Check-In
All defined public activities and general retail industry premises must have a completed COVID Safe Plan and have an approved contact tracing system enabled.
All people entering the place must upload their relevant contact details to the approved contact tracing system. This upload is automatic when you use the COVID SAfe Check-In to scan the QR code.
For more information, visit the COVID Safe Checkin page.
Activities that require a COVID Marshal
A COVID Marshal is required for the following prescribed operations:
- The onsite purchase and consumption of food or beverages (indoors or outdoors).
- Religious or faith-based ceremonies (other than wedding ceremonies or funeral services).
- Supermarkets and hardware stores.
- Gatherings of 51-150 people at residential premises.
- Distribution centres (including associated transport operations).
- Gymnasiums and fitness centres.
- Swimming pools used by the public.
- Sporting clubs.
- Any activity where a COVID Management Plan is required.
- Public assemblies.
- Any operation which may be defined by the state coordinator.
Operating under COVID-normal restrictions.
From 12 noon Thursday 15 July 2021, it will be mandatory to use the Check In CBR app on Canberra’s buses, light rail, taxis and rideshare and all retail settings.
No current restrictions
With the fluctuation of lockdowns and restrictions across all Australian states and territories within the past few weeks, we have collated a list of open grants per state and territory to help businesses stay afloat during these tough times.
We understand there can be a maze of rules and criteria to navigate to apply for grants and support packages. The National Retail Association has a dedicated team who can help you write and apply for grants for a small fee should you require assistance. We have the expertise to support you with breaking down the eligibility, providing training options (if relevant) and completing a competitive submission. Contact us on training@nra.net.au or on 1800 732 066.
NATIONAL
JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme
The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme is an incentive for businesses to employ additional young job seekers aged 16–35 years. Eligible employers can access the JobMaker Hiring Credit for each eligible additional employee they hire between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021.
QUEENSLAND
2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants
Your business may be eligible for financial support through the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants. $5,000 grants will be made available to small and medium businesses across Queensland affected by the COVID-19 lockdown that commenced on Saturday 31 July 2021 and lockdowns in other states.
You may be eligible to receive a grant of $5,000 (excluding GST). This grant may be used for business expenses.
Your business doesn't have to be located in South East Queensland, but you must have experienced at least a 30% reduction in turnover as a result of the lockdown.
Grants are also available for large businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector operating in the 11 local government areas in the lockdown, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
More information on how to apply, including the opening date for applications, will be available in the coming days.
Business Boost Grants Program*
The Business Boost grants program provides support to businesses to advance improvements in their efficiency and productivity. You may be eligible to receive a grant payment of $15,000 (excluding GST) on completing your proposed project. Applications will close when enough applications are received for competitive assessment, and eligibility criteria applies.
Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program*
The objective of this program is to support small businesses subject to closure or highly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown restrictions announced by the Queensland Government, to adapt and sustain their operations, and build resilience. Applications have closed for South East Queensland, however, remains open for regional Queensland.
NEW SOUTH WALES
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
This is a lump sum payment to help workers unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 state public health order. This may involve a lockdown, hotspot or movement restrictions.
COVID-19 Business Grants*
A one-off payment to help businesses with cashflow support for the first 3 weeks of lockdown between $7,500 to $15,000 depending on the decline in turnover.
JobSaver
Fortnightly payments to help maintain employee headcount (as at 13 July) and provide cashflow support to businesses.
- Employing businesses: 40% of weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week and a maximum payment of $10,000 per week
- Non-employing business: $1,000 per week
COVID-19 Micro Business Grants*
A fortnightly payment of $1,500 for businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.
Micro Business Support Grants
Small businesses, sole traders or not-for-profit organisations with aggregated annual turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions may be eligible to apply for a fortnightly payment of $1,500 to cover business expenses for the duration of the Greater Sydney lockdown.
Deferral of payroll tax
NSW Government has announced a deferral of payroll tax until 7 October 2021, and 25 per cent reduction in payroll tax for the 2021/22 financial year for eligible customers. More information on tax relief is available at ServiceNSW.
Commercial landlords liable for land tax will be eligible for a land tax concession of up to 100 per cent of the 2021 land tax year liability where they reduce the rent of financially distressed tenants. More information on commercial lease support is available at ServiceNSW.
VICTORIA
21 July 2021 Top-Up Payment
All business that received payments through the Business Cost assistance program round two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will receive $2800 or $4200. These payments will be processed automatically.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
This is a lump sum payment to help workers unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 state public health order. This may involve a lockdown, hotspot or movement restrictions.
Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two
The Victorian Government’s Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two (BCAP2) assists eligible small to medium businesses in sectors most affected by the May-June 2021 COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria.
The program offers grants of up to $7000 to eligible businesses, including employing and non-employing businesses, depending on their industry sector, location and the number of weeks they closed.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
The Victorian Government’s $70 million Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 supports eligible licensed hospitality venues. Grants of $3,500 per premises in regional Victoria and $7,000 per premises in metropolitan Melbourne are available to eligible liquor licensees operating a restaurant, hotel, café, pub, bar, club, or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol.
Victorian Events Support Package
The Victorian Events Support Package delivers five streams of support including the Sustainable Event Business Program, the Impacted Public Events Support Program, the Independent Cinema Support Program, the Live Performance Support Program (presenters), and the Live Performance Support Program (suppliers).
Business Continuity Fund
A $156 million Business Continuity Fund will be established to deliver $5,000 grants to up to around 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. 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, to be fully funded by the Victorian Government, will deliver $80 million to provide support to landlords that provide rent relief to their tenants.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
A new $85 million fund will be established to support small businesses who have not been eligible under existing business support funds.
Small businesses with a payroll of up to $10 million who have experienced a 70 per cent or greater
reduction in revenue will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000.
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.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
This is a lump sum payment to help workers unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 lockdown, hotspot or period of restricted movement. The COVID-19 Disaster Payment can help you when COVID-19 restrictions last for more than 7 days. You can’t get this payment for the first 7 days of an event.
Business Support Package
One-off emergency cash grant to assist businesses during current lockdown:
-
- $3,000 for employing SME businesses.
- $1,000 for non-employing SMEs.
Landlord and tenant support
Landlords who provide tenants impacted by COVID-19 with rent relief may be eligible for a 25% reduction on the land tax payable on a parcel of land in the 2019-20 land tax year.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grant: Round Two, June 2021
The grant program will provide $3000 cash flow support to small businesses in industry sectors most impacted and will be made available to eligible small businesses across Perth, Peel and regional Western Australia.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Territory Business Lockdown Payment Program
The Territory Business Lockdown Payment has been established to provide immediate financial support to businesses during a lockdown period. This payment is an amount of $1,000 and those eligible will need to submit a simple online application.
Small Business Survival Payment*
Much like the immediate survival payments, one-off payments of between $2,000 and $20,000 will be offered to support those businesses that have experienced considerable reductions in turnover and need some support to get through the ongoing COVID 19 impacts and the traditionally low tourist season.
Business Growth Program*
The Business Growth Program helps businesses access professional services to improve their performance, sustainability and profitability. It also provides mentoring and coaching support.
I need help with my mental health
Dealing with the emotional fallout of lock down scenarios, having to make staff redundant and struggling with concerns about the future of your business is not something you have to do alone.
The National Retail Association is a strong advocate for retailers looking after their, and their employees, mental health. Please find following a variety of resources for you to utilise if you need assistance. And, as per our CEO's statement below, feel free to contact us for more information.
We are acutely aware as to how tough it is out there and we remind you to make sure you are looking after each other and yourselves where possible. In times like these, maintaining your mental health is incredibly important. If there is anything we can do, if you need to speak to someone, please do not hesitate to contact us – we are always here for you and your business rain, hail or shine. We are in this together.
