VICTORIA COVID-19 UPDATE: New support for Victorian businesses during lockdown

Dear Members,

Victorian State Government Funding

If you have been forced to close due to the last State Government lockdown ie Tatts Kiosk, payments from the State Government of Victoria will automatically go into your account in the next few days. You don’t need to do anything. If you got $2,000 last lockdown you get $2,000 again if you got $3,000 last time you will get $3,000 again etc.

The Victorian Government will provide cash grants for businesses affected by lockdowns.

Automatic payments will be made to eligible businesses and sole traders across the state to minimise delays and swiftly get money into the pockets of businesses who need it most.

Up to 90,000 businesses that have and will receive payments through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and Business Costs Assistance Program relating to the May-June lockdown will receive the Victorian Government’s new support payments of $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.

Payments are due to commence over the course of next week – with total funding of $201.8 million. Eligible businesses will include restaurants, cafes bars, event suppliers, tourism and accommodation providers and non-essential retailers.

The Victorian Government has also reached an agreement with the Commonwealth Government to fund income support payments from day one of the lockdown.

Workers affected by the public health restrictions are now eligible for the same payments afforded by the Commonwealth to New South Wales workers:

Payments of $600 will be made to Victorians that lose 20 hours or more of work during the period of the lockdown
Payments of $375 will be made to individuals that lose between 8-20 hours of work during the period of the lockdown
There is no liquid assets test applied to receive these payments

The Federal Government will fund payments for those Victorians who work or live in a COVID-19 Hotspot declared by the Commonwealth – that includes Greater Melbourne, Moorabool Shire, the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, and the Surf Coast Shire.

The Victorian Government will fund payments for Victorians who live outside of these areas but are still subject to the lockdown.

All applications can be made through the Services Australia www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.

Kind regards,