The Victorian Government announced on 27 May 2021 the “Circuit Breaker Business Support Package” to assist small to medium business, including sole traders, who were unable to operate due to the Circuit Breaker lockdown. This package was further extended on 2 June 2021 following the week extension of the Circuit Breaker lockdown.
Eligible businesses will be able to apply for a once off grant payment under either the “Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two” or the “Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021” which is summarised below.
Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two
Eligible businesses under this assistance package will be eligible to receive a once off grant payment of either $2,500 or $5,000.
Eligibility
Business that can continue to operate or work from home are not eligible. Accordingly, businesses that operate in the following sectors will not qualify;
- Essential Retail
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Mining
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
- Professional Services (small exception for photography)
An eligible business will satisfy all of the following conditions:
- be located within Victoria
- operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC Classes
- have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate remotely
- is registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 27 May 2021
- holds an Australian Business Number (ABN) on 27 May 2021
- be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.
Employing businesses must also satisfy the following criteria:
- have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
- 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.
Not-for-profit organisations that are not registered for GST and have an annual turnover between $75,000 and $150,000 can also apply if the organisation meets all other eligibility criteria.
Grant Amount
Grant Amount
- Eligible businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 will be eligible for a once off grant payment of $2,500
- Eligible 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 a once off grant payment of $5,000.
When & How to Apply
Applications opened on 3 June 2021 and will close at 11.59pm, 24 June 2021.
If your business is eligible for a grant under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 package, you will not be able to claim for this grant.
Applications for these grants can only be completed online on the Business Victorian Website. We have included the link to start you application here. Alternatively, please contact our office and we can assist you with the application process.
Note if you have more than one eligible business with different ABN’s you will need to lodge separate applications for each ABN.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
Eligible businesses under this assistance package will be eligible to receive a once off grant payment of either $3,500 per premises or $7,000 per premises.
Eligibility
An eligible business will be one that satisfy all of the following conditions:
- Operates 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
- Holds 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
- Provides 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
- is registered for goods and services tax (GST) on 27 May 2021
- held an Australian Business Number (ABN) on 27 May 2021
- is registered with the responsible Commonwealth or Victorian regulator.
- 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.
For the avoidance of any doubt, if a business does not hold both a food certificate and liquor licence for the same premises, they will not be eligible to receive a grant for those premises.
Grant Amount
- Eligible businesses in regional Victoria will be eligible to receive a once off grant payment of $3,500 per premises.
- Eligible businesses in metropolitan Melbourne will be eligible to receive a once off grant payment of $7,000 per premises.
When & How to Apply
Applications opened on 3 June 2021 and will close at 11.59pm, 24 June 2021.
Applications for this grant can only be submitted through the form link sent by Business Victoria to the liquor licensee’s eLicence email address. If you are a Liquor licensee and do not have an eLicence email address you need to set one up no later than 20 June 2021 to receive the grant application via the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Liquor Portal, which can be found here.
Alternatively, please contact our office and we can assist you with the application process.
