Applications will open for the ACT Small Business Hardship Scheme on the 15th November.

The Scheme will reimburse businesses for costs incurred for electricity, gas and rates paid between 1 July to 31 December 2021 and commercial vehicle registration paid between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021, up to the value of $10,000 per business.

To be eligible businesses must have:
• an annual turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $2 million;
• a valid and active ABN and if required be registered for GST on or before 1 April 2021 (please note, only one application can be submitted per ABN); and
• demonstrate primary operation in the ACT as at 1 April 2021.

*If you have already applied for a COVID-19 Business Support Grant (BSG), please have your BSG application reference number ready to include in this application so you don’t have to re-supply information you may have already provided.

Applications will remain open until 31 January 2022.

Read more and learn how to apply here: https://www.act.gov.au/business/business-support/covid-19-economic-support-for-business

As always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact our office!

Sincerely,

The Halletts Team

The ACT Government has announced new measures to assist businesses and individuals experiencing financial hardship due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Residential – a 12 week moratorium on evictions for rent arrears for tenants who have experienced a loss of income as a result of the lockdown has been announced. Landlords who offer rent relief will be able to apply for a credit on their residential land tax of up to $100 per week to share the cost of passing rent relief onto tenants. More information regarding the application process will be made available online shortly.

Commercial – measures have been reinstated requiring commercial landlords to engage in good faith negotiations with business tenants whose operations have been impacted by Covid-19 health orders. Commercial landlords will be unable to terminate a lease without first discussing revised lease arrangements; landlords that do offer rent relief may be eligible for a commercial rates credit of up to $5,000 – a credit is also available for owner operators. The measures will apply for the full lockdown period from the 12th August.
In addition, the ACT Government will waive rent payments for the month of September for any business and community sector tenants of government-owned properties that have been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. Tenants who have experienced a 30% decline in turnover in August will be eligible for a full waiver of their September rent payments.

To find out more about eligibility requirements, please visit the ACT Business Hub. 

As always, if you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us!

The Federal and State Governments have issued a range of relief packages to assist with the economic impacts of Covid-19. It can all be quite overwhelming!

Support is available from both the federal and state governments, with the newest of these including support for ACT Businesses given the extended lockdown. 

*Updates*

COVID-19 Disaster Payments

70% Vaccination rates

Automatic payments will stop when a state or territory reaches 70% double dose vaccination rates for people 16 years or older.

If your income is still affected by movement restrictions, you’ll need to reapply for the payment each week so we know you remain eligible.

80% Vaccination rates

The first week after a state or territory reaches 80% double dose vaccination rates, COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be:

  • $450 if you’re not getting an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) payment
  • $100 if you’re getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment.

The second week after a state or territory reaches 80% double dose vaccination rates, COVID-19 Disaster Payment will:

  • be $320 if you’re not getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment
  • end if you’re getting an eligible Centrelink or DVA payment.

After this period, there will be no more applications, even if your area is affected by movement restrictions.

ACT COVID-19 Business Support Grant

In October, an additional ACT COVID-19 Business Grant Extension payment of $20,000 for all employing businesses and $7,500 for non-employing businesses, will be 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 at the following rates:

  • $20,000 for employing businesses with a turnover greater than $2 million and less than $5 million
  • $40,000  for employing businesses with a turnover greater than $5 million and less than $10 million
  • $60,000 for employing businesses with a turnover greater than $10 million

COVID-19 Tourism, Accommodation Provider, Arts and Events, Hospitality and Fitness Grants

In addition to the COVID-19 Business Support Grants, the tourism, accommodation, arts and events, hospitality and fitness industries will be eligible for an additional one-off grant payment.

Grants will be provided at the following rates:

  • $5,000 for non-employing businesses
  • $8,000 for employing businesses with turnover less than $2 million
  • $15,000 for employing businesses with turnover greater than $2 million and less than $5 million
  • $25,000 for employing businesses with turnover greater than $5 million

Businesses that have already applied will not need to reapply. The extension payments will be automatically applied if you are eligible. Businesses that have already been paid also do not need to reapply, those that are eligible will automatically receive the extension payment. 

In order to receive extension or top-up payments you must have applied for a Business Support Grant by 7 October.

You can find out more about this program, along with a breakdown of other Federal and State support measures by reading our Snapshot of Covid-19 Assistance which has all the relevant links for your convenience.

As always, if you have any queries please contact us.

The Halletts team