Victoria announces targeted Circuit Breaker business support packages

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The Victorian Government has launched its Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to assist small to medium businesses and sole traders most affected by the restrictions announced on Thursday 27 May 2021 which extended beyond Thursday 3 June 2021.

The targeted business support package include:

1. Business Costs Assistance Program

Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment of $2,500 or $5,000.

The grant amount payable to an eligible business is determined by:

• the business’ industry sector (see Eligible ANZSIC classes)

• 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.

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.

Businesses that receive a grant under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 are not eligible for a grant under this program.

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 open until 11:59pm on Thursday 24 June 2021.

Please refer to the following link to apply for this grant -> Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two | Business Victoria.

2. Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund package

Eligible businesses will receive $3,500 per premises in regional Victoria.
Eligible businesses will receive $7,000 per premises in metropolitan Melbourne.

The funds may be used to assist with:

• meeting business costs, including utilities, wages or rent

• seeking financial, legal, or other advice to support business continuity planning

• developing the business through marketing and communications activities

• any other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

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.

For employing businesses only, the applicant must 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.

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.

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.

If you have received funding through previous business support programs, you may also qualify for this grant if you meet all the eligibility criteria.

You can only submit an application online through the form link sent by Business Victoria to the liquor licensee’s eLicence email address.

Liquor licensees without an eLicence email address must set one up on the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Liquor Portal by 20 June 2021 to receive a grant application form link from Business Victoria.

Applications must be submitted before 11:59pm on 24 June 2021.

3. Victorian Events Support Package:

The $20 million package dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit-breaker restrictions.

The Victorian Government have not yet released information on this grant, however we hope more information will be available soon.

Let’s Talk

Should you have any queries in relation to eligibility for these support packages, please contact us on + 61 3 9527 5041.