Grants and business support

If you are a small business owner in NSW, this $1,000 rebate will help you purchase safety items to improve work health and safety for you and your workers. This rebate is available for small business owners and sole traders who have an ABN and less than 50 full-time employees. Charities and not-for-profits can also apply.

Small business fees, charges and RAT rebate

Businesses and not for profits could apply for a rebate of up to $3000 to offset against NSW government fees and charges, and the cost of obtaining rapid antigen tests if:

they had total annual Australian wages below $1.2 million and
had an ABN registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.

The rebate covered NSW Government charges and fees and local council rates and charges related to the cost of doing business. Payments such as fines and penalties were excluded from the rebate.

The rebate could be drawn on multiple times until the full $3000 was reached.

Businesses could claim the rebate through their Service NSW Business Profile account, upon submitting proof of payment of any of the applicable licence fees and charges.

The rebate was available until 30 June 2022. If the full amount of the rebate was not used up by 30 June 2022, the balance would lapse.

Payroll tax concessions

Entities with total grouped Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million and were eligible for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant or JobSaver payment could have their annual payroll tax liability reduced by 50 per cent.

Other entities with total grouped wages of $10 million or less, who did not receive a 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant or JobSaver payment, could still be eligible for the 50 per cent reduction if they were able to demonstrate that they had experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover.

Commercial tenancy changes

While rent relief ended on 13 March 2022, from 14 March to 30 June 2022, landlords were prevented from taking certain actions, including evicting and locking out, unless they’d attempted mediation with tenants that:

had a turnover of less than $5 million in 2020-21; and
received at any point in time the 2022 Small Business Support Grant, 2021 Micro-business Grant, 2021 Business Grant, or the 2021 JobSaver payment.

Alfresco Restart rebate

NSW food and beverage businesses could apply for the Alfresco Restart rebate of up to $5000 if:

their aggregated annual turnover was less than $10 million for the year ended 30 June 2021, and
they incurred eligible costs and expenses for opening or expanding of outdoor dining areas from 14 October 2021 to 30 April 2022.

Eligible expenses included:

decking and other temporary ground surfaces
lighting
weather protection, including umbrellas
additional furniture.

Payments were made to the first 5000 applicants. Claims had to be made by 30 June 2022.

Victoria

Ventilation Voucher Program

The Victorian Government offered a rebate for public-facing small businesses to undertake immediate actions such as purchasing air purifiers or hiring a qualified tradesperson to undertake minor services to improve ventilation in areas accessible to customers.

Eligible businesses could access between $500 and $5,000 for air ventilation and filtration equipment, works or professional services that would improve ventilation. Applications closed on 8 September 2022.

Small Business Digital Adaptation Program

The Victorian Government offered a $1200 rebate to small businesses investing in approved digital business products such as invoicing, online marketing, upgrading your website, etc.

Applications closed on 18 July 2022.

Western Australia

Small Business Hardship Grant

The WA Government provided a grant to businesses that had experienced a 40 per cent or greater reduction in turnover for any consecutive two-week period between 1 January 2022 and 30 April 2022 (relative to the same period in 2021).

Eligible businesses received:

$5000 for sole traders (no employees)
$10,000 for businesses with one to five employees
$20,000 for businesses with six to 19 employees
$50,000 for businesses with 20 or more employees and with an annual payroll of up to $4 million.

For businesses that had experienced a 30 per cent or greater reduction in turnover for any consecutive two-week period between 1 January 2022 and 30 April 2022 (relative to the same period in 2021).

Eligible businesses received:

$3750 for sole traders (no employees)
$7500 for businesses with one to five employees
$15,000 for businesses with six to 19 employees
$37,500 for businesses with 20 or more employees and with an annual payroll of up to $4 million

Hospitality businesses with an annual payroll of between $4 million to $20 million received a three-month payroll tax waiver. Such businesses must have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 40 per cent for any four-week period between 1 January 2022 and 30 April 2022 (relative to the same period in 2021).

An alternative period in 2021 could be used if the business did not operate at that time or it provided an inaccurate representation of the financial situation of the business.

Applications closed on 30 June 2022.

Small Business Rental Relief Package

The WA Government provided commercial tenants grants of up to $3000 where they:

had an annual turnover of more than $50,000 and an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million, and
were able to demonstrate a 30 per cent or higher reduction in revenue for any four-week consecutive period between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022 (compared to the equivalent period in 2021).

The WA Government also provided commercial landlords who voluntarily matched the Government's $3000 Tenant Rent Relief payment with a $1500 incentive payment. Eligibility criteria included the landlord provided rent relief of $3000 to small business tenants that:

experienced a 30 per cent or higher reduction in revenue for any four-week consecutive period between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022 (compared to the equivalent period in 2021)
had a tenanted premises in WA.

An alternative period in 2021 could be used if the business did not operate at that time or it provided an inaccurate representation of the financial situation of the business.

Applications closed on 30 June 2022.

Outdoor Dining and Entertainment Support Package

The WA Government provided the following assistance to the hospitality sector:

Alfresco Support Program to reimburse small businesses in the hospitality sector up to $5000 for eligible costs associated with creating and expanding an alfresco area. Applications closed on 17 June 2022.
Liquor licence renewal fees for 2022 were waived and refunds provided for businesses that had already paid. One-off fees for variations to liquor licencing to enable alfresco services were also waived.
Nightclub Assistance Program payments of up to $50,000 for eligible nightclubs impacted by capacity limits and social distancing. Applications closed on 30 June 2022.
Performing Arts, Theatres and Cinemas Assistance Program, provided payments of up to $50,000 to a range of larger, indoor entertainment venues that were particularly affected by capacity constraints. Applications closed on 30 June 2022.

Safe Transition Industry Support

The WA Government announced nine support programs for the international education, tourism, aviation and events sectors. It included payments to eligible event suppliers for ticketed events with $10,000 grants for sole traders, $20,000 for small businesses, and $50,000 for large businesses with pre-COVID annual turnover of more than $1 million. Applications closed on 30 June 2022.

Tasmania

Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program Round 2

This program aimed to provide eligible small businesses with access to specialist financial services and/or business support to assist in business recovery, transition, growth, or application of other management strategies.

Eligible applicants received a grant of between $750 and $1500 to obtain financial or business guidance services from a suitably qualified specialist/consultant to assist with:

advice, support, counselling, and the development of strategies to address financial/operational difficulties being experienced by the applicant business
the development of risk management strategies
strategic analysis
advice and analysis regarding the management of cash flow, preparation of cash flow budgets and projections
profitability analysis
the formulation of financial/operational strategies to assist businesses address the impacts of a disruptive event such as a pandemic, natural disaster, or other similar event
the development of business plans and governance frameworks
advice regarding the management of debts and liabilities
advice on pivoting, diversification, product innovation, marketing or online presence.

Business Growth Loan Scheme

The $60 million Business Growth Loan Scheme provided concessional loan funding to support:

the State’s businesses to recover, adapt, grow and develop enhanced business models that supported employment retention and business growth, and
new projects that contributed towards employment and growth of the Tasmanian economy.

The minimum loan amount was $20,000 and the maximum loan amount was $3 million.

The scheme opened for applications on Monday 14 September 2020 and closed on Wednesday 14 September 2022, or until all funding had been utilised, whichever occurred first.

Tourism Development Loan Scheme

The $50 million Tourism Development Loan Scheme provided concessional loan funding to support:

The improvement and development of tourism products and experiences that supported Tasmania’s position as a sought-after and leading Australian destination as the economy re-builds from COVID-19 and travel returns to normal.

Projects had to align with the Tasmanian brand and the vision and priorities of the T21 Visitor Economy Action Plan 2020-22.

The scheme assisted operators to rebuild and regain market share, and provided an opportunity to build resilience, innovate and contribute to the priorities identified within the T21 Plan.

The minimum loan amount was $50,000 and the maximum loan amount was $2 million. Loans above $2 million could be considered by exception (applicants seeking a loan above $2 million had to call Business Tasmania before applying online).

Loan terms of up to five years were available. Loans were interest free for the first three years, after which commercial interest rates would apply. Principal repayments needed to commence no later than 24 months after the initial drawdown of the loan. Loans needed to be fully secured, up to a maximum Loan to Valuation Ration of 80 per cent.

The scheme opened for applications on Monday 23 August 2021 and closed on Tuesday 23 August 2022, or until all funding had been utilised, whichever occurred first.

Payroll Tax waiver and grant: Tourism, Hospitality and Ancillary industries

This payroll tax waiver relief measure was available to eligible Tasmanian employers in the Tourism, Hospitality and ancillary industries.

Applications closed on 31 December 2022.

Northern Territory

COVID-19 Lockdown Payment Program

Businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 to $10 million and with fewer than 20 full-time equivalent employees who suffered a decline in turnover of at least 50 per cent due to lockdown could apply for a payment of $1000 for lockdowns of three to seven days.

For lockdowns beyond seven days, the payment was:

$1000 per week for businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 to $2 million
$2000 per week for businesses with an annual turnover between $2 million to $5 million
$4000 per week for businesses with an annual turnover between $5 million to $10 million.