Victoria: COVID-19 ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown support

Under the Business Costs Assistance Program, eligible small businesses, including sole traders, with an annual payroll of up to $3 million can receive a one-off grant of $2000, whether they have employees or not.

To be eligible, the business must:

• be located within Victoria
•  hold an Australian business number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 12 February 2021
• be registered for goods and services tax (GST) on 12 February 2021
• be registered as operating in an eligible industry sector identified in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes (as defined by the industry classification linked to the business’ ABN on the Australian Business Register)
• have incurred costs (as outlined in Section 5 of the guidelines) as a direct result of the circuit breaker action announced on 12 February 2021
• have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $3 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis

Eligible liquor licensees already under the program can get a further one-off payment of $3000 per elible premises to help with costs incurred through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund.

The Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program will be re-introduced to provide direct financial support for accommodation bookings cancelled due to the circuit breaker action.

Accommodation providers with ten or fewer cancelled nights will get $2,250, and those with 11 or more cancellations will get $4,500.

Two travel voucher schemes for Victorians: an additional 10,000 regional Victoria travel vouchers, and a new 40,000 vouchers for greater Melbourne Travel will be launched soon.