COVID-19 Updates

Centegrity has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the ways in which the state and federal governments are supporting small businesses.

Follow our Covid-19 updates below or contact us here.

29th July 2021

The Victorian Government has announced extra support for Businesses as a result of the recent lockdown. Support includes:

  • Business Continuity Fund for eligible recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 for eligible recipients of the of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
  • Small Business COVID Hardship Fund for small businesses who have experienced 70% or greater reduction in revenue
  • Alpine Business Support Program for Alpine based businesses in recognition of restricted travel during the peak winter season
  • Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme has been reintroduced to ease pressure for eligible tenants

Additionally, there is Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Disaster Payment support for those we are eligible.

All details can be found on the Business Victoria website below:

https://business.vic.gov.au/news-and-updates/2021/extra-support-for-Victorian-businesses 

16th July 2021

The Victoria Government has announced July 2021 Top-Up Payments for successful recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021. Payments will be automatically paid into the previously nominated bank account. No application is required.

Further information will be available in the coming days for those who didn’t apply for either of the initial grants and who were eligible.

15th July 2021

The NSW Government has announced a one-off payment to help businesses with cashflow support for the first 3 weeks of lockdown.

Eligibility criteria include:

  • an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • demonstrate your business was operating in NSW as at 1 June 2021
  • have had total annual Australian wages of $10 million or less as at 1 July 2020
  • have had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020
  • have business costs for which there is no other government support available
  • maintain your employee headcount as at 13 July 2021. See the guidelines for definitions.

Further information can be found here. Applications close 13 September 2021

 

3rd June 2021

Applications are now open for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and close on 24th June 2021. Grants of $2500 or $5000 are available based on business impact dates and location.

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.

 

31st May 2021

Circuit-Breaker Business Support Package for Victorians

As a result of the latest restrictions being announced on 27th May 2021, the Victorian Government has launched the $250 million Support Package which include:

  • Business Costs Assistance Program
  • Licenced Hospitality Venue Fund
  • Victorian Events Support Package

More details regarding eligibility criteria are still to be released. Applications open on Wednesday 2nd June 2021. Interest can be registered here.

 

10th December 2020

The ATO has released the details of the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme  which provides incentive for businesses to employ additional job seekers aged 16-35. The JobMaker Hiring Credit is available to eligible employers between 7 October 2020 – 6 October 2021.

Further details relating to criteria around eligibility for both employers and employees including key dates can be found in the link above.

1st December 2020

As the December Quarter is coming to an end it is important to assess JobKeeper Extension 2 to determine if you are eligible to continue receiving JobKeeper Payments from 4th Jan 2020 – 28 March 2021.

The ATO has updated key dates and information relating to the extension.

17th September 2020

The ATO has released the details of the JobKeeper Extension including:
  • How to determine if employees should be paid Tier 1 or Tier 2 rates – Determine rates of pay
  • Step by Step instructions for calcuating the Basic Test for decline in actual GST Turnover

The ATO has produced a great fact sheet that summaries all the changes.

13th September 2020

Business Survival and Adaptation Package for Victorians.
The Victorian Government has announced Business Survival and Adaptation Package information. Detailed eligibility criteria for the third Business Support Fund are to be available soon. The Fund applicaitons open 18th September 2020 – applications can be made using the link below once available: Business Support Fund – Round 3
More information regarding other Packages for Victorians can be found here: https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/business-resilience-package

17th August 2020

The ATO has released an update in relation to the Eligible Employees from 3 August 2020. This update captures employees that
were newly employed between 1st March – 1st July 2020 that were not previously eligible, it also assists long term casuals that have 12 months of regular and systematic employment for the period ending 1st July 2020. Further details regarding all criteria to be met can be found on the ATO website below:

https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/Employees/Eligible-employees/

Any new eligible employees will need to complete an Employee Nomination Form to be added to JobKeeper payments for the fortnight 3rd – 17th Aug onwards. The ATO has released an updated Employee Nomination Form to be used and kept on record.

Employers have until 31st August 2020 to meet the wage condition for all new eligible employees.

 

7th August 2020

JobKeeper Extension Key Updates

The Government has announced two significant changes to the original Eligibility Criteria specified in our update on 21st July 2020 in relation to the JobKeeper Extension. See the details in the table below:

  28 September to 3 January 2021 4 January to 28 March 2021
Change 1 – Business Turnover Test Previously the actual GST Turnover for both June & September 2020 Quarters relative to comparable 2019 periods were required

 

NOW the actual GST Turnover for September 2020 Quarter relative to comparable 2019 period is required

 Previously the actual GST Turnover for June, September & December 2020 Quarters relative to comparable 2019 periods

 

NOW the actual GST Turnover for December 2020 Quarter relative to comparable 2019 period is required
Change 2 – Employee Eligibility Test Previously employees needed to be employed by 1st March 2020

NOW employees need to be employed by 1st July 2020. Furthermore, when determining the rate of pay for employees who are eligible to receive JobKeeper after 28th September their payment is determined by the two fortnights prior to the 1st  March 2020 or 1st July 2020 – the period with the highest number of hours is to be used for those employees eligible at 1st March 2020.

For further information see the Treasury Fact Sheet: https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Fact_sheet-JobKeeper_Payment_extension.pdf

 

5th August 2020

VICTORIA – Business Support Fund Expansion Increase

Due to Stage 4 restrictions now in place in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, the Victoria Government has increased the initial $5000 Business Support Fund Expansion to $10,000.

Businesses who have successfully received the $5000 expansion do not need to reapply and will automatically receive a further $5000.

For those who have not yet applied,  and the full $10,000 will be available for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

For further information including eligibility criteria please see the link below or contact us for further information:

https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/business-support-package/business-support-fund

Applications close on 14th September 2020.

 

3rd August 2020

Federal Government to introduce “Disaster Payment”

Today Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the Federal Government will introduce a “Disaster Payment” for all workers in Victoria who are required to self-isolate but do not have access to sick leave or JobKeeper or JobSeeker. If workers are required to self-isolate multiple times they will be able to access the payment again.

This payment will encourage workers to stay home when sick as there will be no economic reason to
go to work. Workers will be able to apply for the payment over the phone from Wednesday 5th August.

 

27th July 2020

VICTORIA – COVID-19 Worker Support Payment 

The Victorian Government is providing one-off payments to financially support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate or quarantine due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

A one-off $300 payment to support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate while waiting for coronavirus (COVID-19) test results.

A one-off $1500 payment to support Victorian workers who:

  • Have been instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of a confirmed case.
  • Have been instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services that their child aged under 16 needs to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of a confirmed case.

For more details regarding eligibility refer to the following website where you can express your interest to receive the payment: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/covid-19-worker-support-payment

 

21st July 2020

JobKeeper Payment program extended

The government is expanding the JobKeeper Payment program until 28h March 2021. Currently JobKeeper Payments for all eligible employees are paid $1500 per fortnight until 27th September 2020. There are no changes to eligibility or payments until this time.

The payment will be tiered for all eligible staff from September onwards and will require business to retest eligibility.

 

  28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 4 January to 28 March 2021
Eligibility Using actual GST Turnover for both June & September 2020 Quarters relative to comparable 2019 periods Using actual GST Turnover for both June, September & December 2020 Quarters relative to comparable 2019 periods
Decline in Turnover No change to current testing, must be either:

  • 30% decline if aggregated turnover is less than $1 billion or
  • 50% decline if aggregated turnover is more than $1 billion or
  • 15% decline for registered charities
 No change to current testing, must be either:

  • 30% decline if aggregated turnover is less than $1 billion or
  • 50% decline if aggregated turnover is more than $1 billion or
  • 15% decline for registered charities
Change to pay amount
  • $1200 per fortnight for 20+ hours worked as of Feb 2020
  • $750 per fortnight for < 20 hours worked per fortnight
  • $1000 per fortnight for 20+ hours worked as of Feb 2020
  • $650 per fortnight for < 20 hours worked per fortnight

 

Sole Traders & Eligible Business Participants

  • Same eligibility applies as to businesses. Amount paid depends on time spent actively engaged in the business as per Feb 2020

 

New Recipients of JobKeeper

  • JobKeeper remains open to new recipients that meet the eligibility requirements and additional turnover tests during the extension periods

 

12th July 2020

VICTORIA – Business Support Fund Expansion

The Business Support Fund in Victoria is offering an expansion of the original $10,000 grant. Register your interest below if you are a business that has been forced to close due to the return of Stage 3 restrictions:

https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/business-support-package/business-support-fund

You may be eligible for a one-off $5,000 grant even if you have already received the Business Support Fund.

Applications close on 19th August 2020

 

1st July 2020

NSW – Small Business COVID-19 recovery grant 

The NSW Government is offering between $500 – $3000 grants for eligible businesses impacted as a result of COVID-19

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-small-business-covid-19-recovery-grant

Applications close Sunday 16th August 2020

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