Australia-wide

What’s available for households?

• For six months, the government will boost a range of payments for jobseekers and other groups by $550 a fortnight from 27 April
• There are two $750 lump sum payments for eligible payment recipients, including job seekers, pensioners and some concession card holders
• People in financial stress can access up to $20,000 of their superannuation over two years

What if I run a business?

• Wage subsidies of $100,000 to businesses with a turnover less than $50m and also for not-for-profit charities
• Businesses with a turnover of less than $50m can have 50% of eligible loans up to $250,000 over three years guaranteed by the commonwealth through participating banks and non-bank lenders
• Small businesses can get a 50% wage subsidy to retain trainees and apprentices for up to nine months
• The instant asset write-off will be increased to $150,000, from $30,000, for businesses

We have also located a good link to the federal government’s Business.gov.au website which all the information on assistance available to businesses and sole traders.

New South Wales

What’s available for households?

• A jobs program employing additional cleaners of public infrastructure such as transport assets, schools and other public buildings

What if I run a business?

• Businesses with payrolls of up to $10m will have payroll tax waived for three months
• Payroll tax cuts by raising the threshold limit to $1m
• Small businesses, including bars, cafes, restaurants and tradies, will have fees and charges waived

Victoria

What’s available for households?

• A $500m jobs fund that will match unemployed workers to new jobs in work cleaning public infrastructure or delivering food, and other positions that arise during the pandemic
• Care packages of essential items for eligible people in mandatory self-isolation, who have little or no food, and no network of family and friends to support them

What if I run a business?

• Full payroll tax refunds for the 2019-20 financial year for small and medium-sized businesses with payroll of less than $3m
• Small and medium-sized businesses can defer payroll tax for the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year until 1 January 2021
• Rent relief for commercial tenants in government buildings and 2020 land tax payments deferred
• The government is paying all outstanding provider invoices imminently
• Hospitality sector will have liquor licensing fees waived

Queensland

What’s available for households?

• A $200 rebate on power and water charges, as well as a $50 dividend as a bill credit from the state’s publicly owned electricity assets
• A jobs program to help newly unemployed workers get jobs in industries such as health care, agriculture, food production, transport, cleaning and mining

What if I run a business?

• Low-interest loans of up to $250,000 to help businesses retain employees and maintain their operations
• Payroll tax can be refunded for two months, or deferred for three months or the entire calendar year
• Rent relief is being devised for businesses who lease government properties
• Small and medium businesses that consume less than 100,000 kilowatt hours can get a $500 rebate off energy bills
• Fees and charges can be waived for hospitality and tourism businesses

South Australia

What’s available for households?

• Foster and kinship carers to receive a one-off, immediate $200 payment

What if I run a business?

• A large infrastructure program for shovel-ready projects, including tourism infrastructure and health facilities
• Expanded business grants program known as the Economic and Business Growth Fund

Western Australia

What’s available for households?

• The Energy Assistance Package payment is being increased from $300 to $600 for eligible concession card holders
• The government has frozen scheduled fee and charge increases for electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, the emergency services levy and public transport fares

What if I run a business?

• A one-off payroll tax grant of $17,500 for businesses with a turnover between $1m and $4m
• Small and medium-sized businesses affected by Covid-19 can apply to defer payroll tax until 21 July 2020

Tasmania

What’s available for households?

• Eligible people on low incomes who are required to self-isolate can get a $250 (individuals) or up to $1,000 payment (families)

What if I run a business?

• Interest-free loans for businesses with a turnover below $5m in the hospitality, tourism, seafood production and export sectors
• Payroll taxes waived for hospitality, tourism and seafood industry businesses for the last four months of 2019-20
• Other businesses with payrolls of up to $5m can apply for a payroll tax waiver for April to June 2020
• Government will pay bills to small businesses in 14 days rather than 30 days
• Grants and tax rebates for businesses that hire apprentices or trainees in certain industries, or young people

Australian Capital Territory

What’s available for households?

• Home owners can access a $150 rebate on residential rates for 2020-21
• The Fire and Emergency Services Levy, vehicle registration, parking and public transport fees will be frozen
• People who get the utilities concession get an additional $200 rebate on their electricity bill
• To keep and create jobs the government is fast-tracking infrastructure projects and maintenance on government-owned community, school and other buildings

What if I run a business?

• Licensed venues will have registration and licensing fees waived for 12 months
• Small business owners with electricity usage below 100 megawatts a year get a $750 rebate on their next bill
• Rideshare vehicle licence fees are being waived
• ACT businesses with group Australia-wide wages of up to $10m can defer their payroll tax for 2020-21
• Commercial property owners with an average unimproved value below $2m on their property can apply for a rates rebate

Northern Territory

What’s available for households?

• Cash vouchers up to $6,000 for home improvement programs if you pledge to cover part of the cost
• All increases to government fees and charges, including electricity costs, will be put on hold
• What if I run a business?
• Two $10,000 grants to improve your business property
• Not-for-profit and community organisations can access grants to do repairs, renovations and upgrades to their property and facilities
• A $50m business grants ‘Survival Fund’ is currently being devised

 

Source: The Guardian 24 March 2020