COVID-19 — Business Resources

Economic Response to COVID19 Fact Sheets

• Fact Sheet Jobkeeper
• Fact Sheet Supporting Business
• Fact Sheet Severely Affected Regions and Sectors
• Fact Sheet Cash Flow Assistance
• Fact Sheet Business Investment
• Fact Sheet Temporary Financial Relief - Businesses

For more information: Economic Response to the Coronavirus 

Updated 31 March 2020

Jobseeker Wages Subsidy

The JobKeeper payment is intended to provide wage subsidies to businesses that are significantly affected by COVID-19.

The Government has announced its intention to pass additional legislation to introduce this new measure.

If legislation is enacted, support will be directed to employers to pass on to employees.

The JobKeeper Payment is a subsidy to businesses, which will keep more Australians in jobs through the course of the coronavirus outbreak.

The payment will be paid to employers, for up to six months, for each eligible employee that was on their books on 1 March 2020 and is retained or continues to be engaged by that employer.

Where a business has stood down employees since 1 March, the payment will help them maintain connection with their employees.

Employers will receive a payment of $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee. Every eligible employee must receive at least $1,500 per fortnight from this business, before tax.

The program will commence today, 30 March 2020, with the first payments to be received by eligible businesses in the first week of May as monthly arrears from the Australian Taxation Office. Eligible businesses can begin distributing the JobKeeper payment immediately and will be reimbursed from the first week of May.

You don’t need to phone ATO. You can register your interest below and we will send you updates. No further updates are available at this time.

Register now for JobKeeper updates

For more information: JobKeeper payment

Updated 31 March 2020

Single Touch Payroll

Single Touch Payroll (STP), is a new way of reporting tax and superannuation information to us.

With STP you report employees' payroll information – such as salaries and wages, pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and super – to us each time you pay them through STP-enabled software.

For more information: Single Touch Payroll

Updated 31 March 2020

Victorian State Government Economic Survival Package
Support for Businesses and Jobs

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak impacting industries, the Victorian Government is responding with a $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package to support businesses and workers.

Today, one of the key programs in the package - the $500 million Business Support Fund - is officially open to applications.

The Business Support Fund will help small businesses highly impacted by shutdown restrictions. Those businesses can apply for a $10,000 grant towards operational costs and to help keep people in work.

To be eligible, businesses must already employ staff, have payroll of less than $650,000 and a turnover of more than $75,000. Full details on eligibility and how to apply are set out on the Business Support Fund webpage.

The attached fact sheet provides further information about the Victorian Government’s Economic Survival Package.

Businesses needing guidance on dealing with the coronavirus can also check the Business Victoria website or call the Business Victoria hotline 13 22 15.

The Victorian Government is committed to working with your council in helping them get to the other side of this crisis.

For more information: Business Support Fund webpage.

Updated 31 March 2020

Stage 3 Restrictions in Force in Victoria From Midnight 30 March 2020

These Stage 3 restrictions will come into effect from 11:59pm and will be reviewed after four weeks.

If people breach these directions, they face on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses. Larger fines can also be issued through the courts.

National Cabinet’s strong guidance to all Australians is to stay home unless for:

• shopping for what you need - food and necessary supplies;
• medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements;
• exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements;
• work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.

For more information: Premier Announcement and National Cabinet Announcement

Updated 30 March 2020

Moratorium on Evictions

National Cabinet has agreed to a moratorium on evictions for the next six months for residential and commercial tenants who are experiencing financial distress due to the impact of coronavirus. This will apply across all states and territories.

Commercial tenants, landlords and financial institutions are encouraged to sit down together to find a way through to ensure that businesses can survive and be there on the other side. As part of this, National Cabinet agreed to a common set of principles, endorsed by Treasurers, to underpin and govern intervention to aid commercial tenancies as follows:

• a short term, temporary moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent to be applied across commercial tenancies impacted by severe rental distress due to coronavirus;
• tenants and landlords are encouraged to agree on rent relief or temporary amendments to the lease;
• the reduction or waiver of rental payment for a defined period for impacted tenants;
• the ability for tenants to terminate leases and/or seek mediation or conciliation on the grounds of financial distress;
• commercial property owners should ensure that any benefits received in respect of their properties should also benefit their tenants in proportion to the economic impact caused by coronavirus;
• landlords and tenants not significantly affected by coronavirus are expected to honour their lease and rental agreements; and
• cost-sharing or deferral of losses between landlords and tenants, with Commonwealth, state and territory governments, local government and financial institutions to consider mechanisms to provide assistance

For more information: National Cabinet Announcement

Updated 30 March 2020

Australian banks will defer loan repayments for 98% of all businesses affected by COVID-19 for six months.

If your business has loan facilities of up to $10m, and has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and lock downs, contact your bank online today.

More information: Aust Banking Association

Updated 30 March 2020

COVID in Different Languages

SBS is informing all Australians about the latest coronavirus developments.

News and information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available below in 63 languages.

For more information : SBS Radio

Updated 30 March 2020

Mental Health Assistance Fact Sheet

A fact sheet about a package of measures to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as we face the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic.

For more information:  health.gov.au

Updated 30 March 2020

$10,000 Grant

In more support for businesses impacted by the coronavirus, the first tranche of the Government’s $500 million Business Support Fund grants will flow from Monday, with $10,000 grants available for over 30,000 employers who don’t pay payroll tax.

Eligible businesses can apply for a one-off $10,000 grant which can be used towards costs such as utilities, rent and salaries, and activities to support business continuity planning. 

For more information: Business Victoria website  - eligibility criteria and to apply. 

Updated 30 March 2020

COVID Australian Government WHATSAPP

Coronavirus Australia, which is available from the Apple App Store and on Google Play, was launched alongside the Government's new WhatsApp feature.

The app is now available on Apple and Android devices. The WhatsApp channel can be accessed by entering aus.gov.au/whatsapp into your internet browser

For more information: GooglePlay

Updated 29 March 2020

Payroll Tax – Even if you don’t pay payroll tax

Premier Daniel Andrews and Treasurer Tim Pallas announced that payroll tax refunds have now hit the bank accounts of 2,700 small businesses, putting $52 million immediately back into the pockets of business owners.

More than 21,000 small businesses have been contacted about their refund, with all eligible businesses who have provided their bank details to get their money from the Victorian Government by the end of next week.

For more information:

• Premier Announcement
• State Revenue Office

Updated 28 March 2020

Coronavirus information and support for business

Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses. We'll be updating this page as new information is available.

For more information visit business.gov.au

Updated 25 March 2020

Victorian Government assists workers

Under the Working for Victoria Fund, displaced workers will be eligible to apply for different types of work. This presents opportunities for paid work and an opportunity to contribute to Victoria’s ability to manage this event and support the community.

Some displaced workers will have skills that can be readily transferred to new roles. The Government can also assist skills development or help people in obtaining immediate accreditation to commence work.

The Government will work across the public sector, local government, the not-for-profit sector and key private sector employers to facilitate job matching.

Businesses that need workers can get in touch at business.vic.gov.au

Business support is also available from the Victorian Government. For more information visit business.gov.au

Updated 25 March 2020

Essential contacts

A public information hotline is provided by Nurse-on-Call: 1800 675 398

Medical practitioners needing clinical information or to notify suspected or confirmed cases can contact the Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Diseases Section on 1300 651 160 (24 hours).

Updated 25 March 2020

Helping businesses to remain viable and keeping people in their homes is good for everyone

Australian Banking Association has updated information about small business relief.

Visit the Australian Banking Association website.

Updated: 25 March 2020

Businesses can now call a Business Victoria hotline

For the latest information on the COVID-19 response, how this affects businesses, how to keep their workplace safe and advice on how to plan for dealing with the current situation and anticipate likely developments, contact the hotline on 13 22 15.

The hotline can also provide information about support services and what financial assistance might be available.

Updated: 24 March 2020 

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Due to the current health crisis and from the recent bushfire crisis, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have waived membership fees for all Victorian businesses (up to a value of $700). This is to make sure all businesses can access the expert services they need, giving them the best prospect of success.

Visit the Victorian Chamber of Commerce website.

Updated: 24 March 2020 

Urgent business rescue strategies

David Lennon volunteers as a Business Mentor for Glen Eira and is a professional in Business Turnaround and Mentoring. David has offered this downloadable resource Urgent Business Rescue Strategies. 

Updated: 24 March 2020 

Prime Minister announces new restrictions on Real Estate Activity

Prime Minister announces new restrictions on Open For Inspections and Auctions. REIV is seeking further clarification.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just announced new limits on gatherings. The announcement states that open house inspections, auction houses, gatherings in auction rooms and real estate auctions can no longer continue. These restrictions will apply from midnight 25 March 2020.

For more information: REIV

Updated: 24 March 2020

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Support

You can contact the Business Assistance Line 13 28 66. All taxpayers affected by the coronavirus outbreak can contact the ATO for assistance. You can contact the ATO on 1800 806 218 or visit the ATO website for further information.

Payment deferrals
If you have been affected by the coronavirus, the ATO can work with you to defer some payments and vary instalments you have due.

Monthly GST credits
Businesses on a quarterly reporting cycle may elect to change their GST reporting and payment to monthly, to get quicker access to GST refunds you are entitled to. You can only change from the start of a quarter, so a change now will take effect from 1 April 2020.

Pay as you go instalments
If you're a quarterly pay as you go (PAYG) instalments payer you can vary your PAYG instalments on your activity statement for the March 2020 quarter. You can do this by lodging a revised activity statement before your instalment is due and before you lodge your income tax return for the year. Businesses that vary their PAYG instalment rate or amount can also claim a refund for any instalments made for the September 2019 and December 2019 quarters.

Remitting interest and penalties
Where your business is affected by the coronavirus, the ATO will consider remitting interest and penalties applied to tax liabilities incurred after 23 January 2020.

Low interest payment plans
If your business has been affected by the coronavirus and you need help to pay your existing and ongoing tax liabilities, you can contact the ATO to discuss entering a low interest payment plan.

Visit the Tax support page on the Australian Government business website.

Updated: 23 March 2020

Victorian Small Business Commission — responding to difficulty in paying rent

Help for small business owners, landlords and agents who are dealing with situations where the tenant is having difficulty in paying rent. 

Visit the responding to difficulty in paying rent page on the Victorian Small Business Commission website.

Updated: 20 March 2020

Glen Eira Council Traders

Councils Civic Compliance Unit have ceased proactive Footpath Trading inspections and will be only attending to community concerns during this challenging period. Please continue to maintain safe, clean and accessible areas for pedestrians through the footpaths.

If you would like to make any changes to your permit or have any questions, please email Councils Civic Compliance Unit at ccu@gleneira.vic.gov.au

Updated 20 March 2020

Australian Government Business Support

The $17.6 billion package is focused on keeping small businesses afloat, and their employees in work, and will be targeted to support the most affected sectors and communities.
For detailed information on the support expand the topics below: