Extended Support for Victorian Businesses

Dear Members,

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have announced a jointly-funded support package to provide a critical four-week boost to small and medium-sized Victorian businesses most impacted by current public health restrictions.

The joint package of up to $2.34 billion will deliver certainty to around 175,000 Victorian businesses as the state bands together to restrict the spread of infection while the drive to vaccinate 70 percent, then 80 percent, of the population accelerates.

The business support payments confirmed today, Saturday 4 September, cover a four-week period ending on Thursday 30 September.

The vast majority of payments will be deposited automatically into businesses’ bank accounts, while a new tiered payments system for the Business Costs Assistance Program will allow for higher payments to businesses with more workers.

Business Costs Assistance Program
Funding of up to $1.6 billion will support about 132,000 businesses across multiple sectors who were recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or July Extension.

Businesses throughout Victoria will receive automatic payments to cover ongoing costs such as wages, rent, utilities, and insurance:

$2,800 a week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000
$5,600 a week for businesses with an annual payroll of $650,000 to less than $3 million
$8,400 for businesses with an annual payroll of $3 million to $10 million.

Businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
The Small Business COVID Hardship Fund will receive a $448 million boost, increasing the total grant amount available to small and medium-sized businesses from $14,000 to $20,000 in recognition of the impact of the lockdown extension.

The Fund now stands at $700 million, providing support for up to 35,000 businesses.

Some 16,000 businesses that have already received a Small Business COVID Hardship Fund grant will receive an automatic top-up payment of $6,000.

This program supports businesses that have been ineligible for Victorian Government business support programs since May but have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 percent. This includes businesses that are legally allowed to operate but are restricted in their ability to generate revenue.

Applications for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund close on 10 September.

More information about business support programs is available at business.vic.gov.au. 

Book your vaccination appointment
Getting vaccinated has never been more important. The best vaccine is the vaccine you can get today.

All Victorians are encouraged to book their vaccination appointment by visiting portal.cvms.vic.gov.au or by phoning the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres for more information on Victoria’s vaccination centres, including locations and opening hours.

Yours sincerely,