Business support: State-by-state breakdown

A snapshot of business support relevant to retailers. The ARA will keep this post continuously updated.

The following information is current as of 31 March 2022.

Please see the below quick links for relevant information:

  • Disaster Flood Relief (for QLD and NSW members)
  • Covid-19 Related Business Support

Disaster Flood Relief

Natural disaster assistance is available from the Australian Government and the NSW and Queensland governments to help businesses directly affected by floods.

If your business has been affected by the recent rainfall and floods, there’s a range of support available.

We hope the below information can help you to access support easily and quickly as needed.

Support for businesses in New South WalesNew support package for northern NSW

  • $100 million for a Small and Medium-sized Businesses Package in the seven highly impacted local government areas
  • Grants of up to $10,000 for eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organisations that have experienced a minimum 40 per cent decline in turnover in March 2022 due to the impacts of flooding.
  • Financial assistance grants of up to $200,000 for medium sized businesses, employing more than 20 and up to 200 employees that have been impacted by floods, to assist with clean-up, essential repairs and replacement not covered by insurance.
  • New support package for northern NSW
  • Additional flood assistance for Northern NSW and rental support applications open

Extra $150 million for QLD and NSW for flood recovery and resilience

Apply for the flood recovery rental support payment

Apply for the February and March 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant

SMALL BUSINESS DEBT HELPLINE – Support is available for small businesses affected by floods.

  • We can help you find and apply for grants, concession loans and bill relief to help your business recover.
  • We can also help with your insurance – including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.
  • Floods – Small Business Debt Helpline (sbdh.org.au)

Bank assistance for flood victims – Financial Assistance For People Affected By The QLD & NSW Floods (canstar.com.au) 

  • National Australia Bank (NAB)
    NAB is also offering $1,000 grants to customers in northern New South Wales who have been affected by the floods and need funds to cover immediate needs in the aftermath of the crisis.
    Call NAB Assist on 1300 308 132
  • ANZ Bank
    ANZ has announced a financial relief package for customers affected by flooding across Northern New South Wales
    Short-term payment relief on home loans, credit cards, personal loans and some business loans (the bank says it may still charge interest during this period)
    Waiving fees for restructuring business loans
    Waiving fees for accessing term deposits early.
    ANZ customers affected by flooding are encouraged to contact the bank’s dedicated financial hardship team on 1800 149 549 or visit their website for natural disaster support
  • Export assistance grant
    If you are an exporting business, or if you were exporting goods or services before the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought, you may be eligible for an export assistance grant of up to $10,000.
    Export assistance grant | Service NSW

Support for businesses in Queensland

Bank assistance for flood victims – Financial Assistance For People Affected By The QLD & NSW Floods (canstar.com.au) 

  • National Australia Bank (NAB)
    NAB is offering $1,000 grants to customers in Queensland
    $1,000 business grants to help restart or reopen and cover the cost of damaged property
    Call NAB Assist on 1300 308 132
  • ANZ Bank
    ANZ has announced a financial relief package for customers affected by flooding across south east Queensland
    Short-term payment relief on home loans, credit cards, personal loans and some business loans (the bank says it may still charge interest during this period)
    Waiving fees for restructuring business loans
    Waiving fees for accessing term deposits early.
    ANZ customers affected by flooding are encouraged to contact the bank’s dedicated financial hardship team on 1800 149 549 or visit their website for natural disaster support

For further advice on the latest news for each area, the ARA recommends you look at the following links:

COVID-19 Business Support


NATIONAL

National support for business

 


NEW SOUTH WALES

Support for businesses in NSW 

Apply for the 2022 Small Business Support Program

  • If you’re a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you’ve been impacted by the Omicron wave of COVID-19, you may be eligible for a payment under the 2022 Small Business Support Program
  • If you’re an employing business, the payment will be equivalent to 20% of weekly payroll for work performed in NSW:
    – minimum payment will be $750 per week
    – maximum payment will be $5,000 per week.

Apply for a commercial landlord hardship grant

  • small commercial or retail landlord, you may be eligible for a grant under the commercial landlord hardship fund if your main source of income is impacted due to providing rent relief to tenants financially impacted by COVID-19 restrictions
  • Grants of up to $3,000 per month (GST inclusive), per property, are available
  • Applications close 31 May 2022.
  • Apply for a commercial landlord hardship grant | Service NSW

Apply for the small business fees and charges rebate

Business registration and support for NSW vouchers

SME Recovery Loan Scheme

  • The Government’s SME Recovery Loan Scheme (the Scheme) is designed to support the economic recovery and provide continued assistance to SMEs dealing with the economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis.
  • Until 30 June 2022
  • SME Recovery Loan Scheme | Treasury.gov.au

SME Recovery Loan Scheme

  • support the economic recovery and provide continued assistance to SMEs dealing with the economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis
  • Government guarantee of 50%.
  • Loans are available until 30 June 2022
  • SME Recovery Loan Scheme | Treasury.gov.au

Alfresco Restart rebate

  • If you are a small or medium food and beverage business wanting to create or expand your outdoor dining area, you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $5,000 under the NSW Government’s Alfresco Restart package.
  • Claims must be made by 30 June 2022
  • Register for an Alfresco Restart rebate | Service NSW

Funding to help bring city streets back to life

Export assistance grant

  • If you are an exporting business, or if you were exporting goods or services before the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires or drought, you may be eligible for an export assistance grant of up to $10,000.
  • Export assistance grant | Service NSW

COVID-19 Tax Relief Measures NSW

$1000 SafeWork small business rebate


VICTORIA

Support for businesses in Victoria

COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program VIC

Tax relief measures for eligible Victorian businesses impacted by COVID-19

COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate VIC

  • The COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate provides small and medium-sized businesses with a rebate to help offset the costs of hiring professional cleaning services to conduct a decontamination clean.
  • Apply at any time
  • COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate VIC | business.gov.au

Jobs Victoria Fund

  • The Jobs Victoria Fund provides businesses, sole traders, social enterprises and organisations with a wage subsidy to take on new, eligible staff.
  • Wage subsidies of up to $20,000 over 12 months
  • Apply at any time
  • Jobs Victoria Fund | business.gov.au

Small Business Digital Adaptation Program

 


QUEENSLAND

Support for businesses in Queensland

Support for Tourism Operators and Hospitality Providers QLD

Queensland COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate

  • The COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate provides small and medium businesses that have been listed as an exposure venue with rebates to help cover professional cleaning expenses.
  • Rebates of up to $10,000
  • Applications will remain open until all funds are exhausted, or the program closes, whichever occurs first
  • Queensland COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate | business.gov.au

Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses

Backing business investment – accelerated depreciation

How insurers are helping their customers

Support for customers impacted by COVID-19 – Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland

  • Your energy or water provider may offer financial relief if your business has been affected by COVID-19. Visit the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland, or talk to your provider, for more advice
  • Support for customers impacted by COVID-19 | EWOQ

 


WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Support for businesses in Western Australia

Level 2 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package to support Western Australian businesses

Small Business Hardship Grants

  • Eligible businesses that apply and receive funding from other recent business support programs, including the Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package, are also eligible to receive grants from the Level 2 package. Payments to eligible businesses will be according to business size
  • Be able to demonstrate a 50 per cent reduction in revenue for any two-week consecutive period between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 202
  • COVID-19 Government Grants | Small Business Development Corporation

Tenant Rent Relief Scheme

COVID-19 Government Grants: COVID-19 Government Grants | Small Business Development Corporation

 


NORTHERN TERRITORY

Support for businesses in the Northern Territory

Business Growth Program

Business Hardship Register

  • $3,000 for employing businesses, or $1,000 for sole traders a
  • 30% reduction on utility bills from January 2022 until March 2022
  • A waiver on payroll tax (payroll below $5 million) from January 2022 to March 2022.
  • Business Hardship Register – NT.GOV.AU

COVID-19 Lockdown Payment Program

  • An extra small business payment is available if:
    – the business is closed for more than 7 days due to the Chief Health Officer directions
    – the business is in a lockdown zone and already applied
    – the business was approved for the lockdown payment (round 4).

Smarter Business Solutions

Aboriginal Business Development Program

 


AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Support for businesses in the Australian Capital Territory

Business support ACT – Business support – Business Hub (act.gov.au)

The SCREEN Fund

  • This grant provides funding to independent cinemas who have had significant declines in revenue due to COVID-19.
  • Funding of up to $85,000.
  • Closing date: 29 Apr 2022
  • The SCREEN Fund | business.gov.au

SME Recovery Loan Scheme

  • This program provides small and medium-sized businesses with guaranteed loans to help their business recover from the impacts of the coronavirus crisis.
  • Loan of up to $5 million.
  • Closing date: 30 Jun 2022
  • SME Recovery Loan Scheme | business.gov.au

Indigenous Business Australia – COVID-19 Support

Economic Survival Package ACT

Payroll tax exemption – apprentices or trainees

Utilities concession increase

  • From 1 July 2021, the annual utilities concession amount has permanently increased by $50 to $750.
  • In the 2021-22 financial year, an additional one-off $50 increase will be provided to the utilities concession in light of the electricity prices increases.
  • As a temporary COVID-19 measure, there will be an additional one-off $200 increase in the utilities concession to bring it to $1,000 for 2021-22 to help the most vulnerable in the ACT community with a significant expense throughout the year.
  • COVID-19 Assistance | ACT Revenue Office – Website

 


SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Support for businesses in South Australia 

COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant SA

  • This program provides funding to SA employing and non-employing businesses whose turnover has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
  • One-off grants of $2,000 for non-employing businesses and $6,000 for employing businesses.
  • Closing date: 31 Mar 2022
  • COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant SA | business.gov.au

Support for businesses, jobs & the community impacted by COVID-19: Support for businesses, jobs & the community impacted by COVID-19:

See Payroll Tax Deferral for Tourism, Hospitality and Gyms/Other Businesses:

  • Tourism, hospitality, gyms and other eligible businesses impacted by the trading restrictions in place from 27 December 2021 may apply to RevenueSA for a deferral of payroll tax due over the period from January 2022 to June 2022, with these deferred payments due from July 2022.

Liquor Licence Fees – Relief

See Jobs and Economic Growth Fund

Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant – December 2021


TASMANIA

Support for businesses in Tasmania

COVID-19 Business Impact Support Program Round 3

  • The COVID-19 Business Impact Support Program has been established to support Tasmanian businesses whose business operations have been impacted due to:
    – critical staff being required to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19, or
    – being forced to close due to a Public Health Direction
    – suffered a significant reduction in demand

COVID-19 Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program TAS

Business Growth Loan Scheme TAS

  • This scheme provides businesses with concessional loans to help them develop and transition to sustainable post-COVID-19 operating models.
  • Loans from $20,000 to $3 million.
  • Closing date: 14 Sep 2022
  • Business Growth Loan Scheme TAS | business.gov.au

Rapid Response Skills Initiative (RRSI) TAS

Business Vehicle Registration Relief Package TAS

 

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