August 2021 - QLD COVID-19 Lockdown – Financial Assistance Packages

Whilst more details are still to be announced by the QLD Government in the coming days, businesses impacted by the latest lockdown restrictions in Queensland may be eligible for financial assistance and support through the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant.

Under the program, an assistance grant of $5,000 will be made available to small-to-medium businesses across Queensland in the local government areas affected by the South-East Queensland COVID-19 lockdown (31^st July – 8^th August 2021)** and the Cairns & Yarrabah lockdown (8 August to 11 August 2021)*** .

Who Can Apply?

How to Apply?

Applications for the Grant will open at 12pm (midday), 16th August 2021. Businesses & NFPs looking to submit an application will be required to apply online via the QRIDA portal (Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority) , also attaching the appropriate supporting evidence & documentation.

For a full list of the supporting documentation required – please follow the link:

For full details on the application process and more information on the Grant program – please following the link: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/grants/covid19-support-grants

Additional Support Measures

Also announced over the past 48 hours, the Grant will now extend further with a joint Queensland and Australian Government support package. More details will be made available on this in due course, however additional support for businesses that have had a decline in turnover of more than 30 per cent will include:

• a $1,000 one-off grant to non-employing sole traders across Queensland;
• Tiered payments based on payroll size for all businesses across Queensland:
  • a $10,000 one-off, top-up grant to small businesses with payroll of less than $1.3 million,
  • a $15,000 one-off top-up grant to medium-sized businesses with payroll between $1.3 million and $10 million;
  • a $30,000 one-off, top-up grant to large-sized tourism and hospitality focused businesses with payroll of greater than $10 million.

Alongside support at business level, the QLD Government has also announced that affected individuals may be able to access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

Individuals will be able to receive $750 (tax-free) if they have lost 20 or more hours of work in each weekly period during lockdown. Those who lose between 8 and 19 hours will be entitled to receive $450 (tax-free). 

To be eligible to receive the payment, you need to meet the following eligibility rules:

• you're an Australian resident or hold a visa that gives you the right to work in Australia
• you're 17 years or older
• you didn't get an income support payment, Education Allowance or ABSTUDY Living Allowance during the payment period.
• you didn't get the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, a state or territory pandemic payment or a state small business payment for the same period
• you lost income and didn’t have any appropriate paid leave entitlements.
• You need to use any pandemic-related paid leave but are not required to take annual leave, sick leave, long service leave or compassionate leave
• you lived in, worked from or visited a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot that is subject to a state restricted movement order
• you have been unable to earn your usual income of 8 hours or more, or a full day’s work because you were in the COVID-19 hotspot and were subject to restricted movement.

There are two relevant periods you can apply for:

• 1 August to 7 August 2021
• 8 August 2021.

Applications open from Saturday, 7th August through MyGov.

It is important to note that unlike the JobKeeper program where businesses were responsible for submitting information on behalf of employees, the onus will be on the individual employee to apply directly to Services Australia.

Further information is available at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment-queensland.

For More Information

For more information or to discuss how we can be of assistance in helping you in forming a grant application in due course, please contact the Archer Gowland Redshaw office on (07) 3002 2699 or info@agredshaw.com.au.

** Local government areas of Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Noosa Shire City Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim City Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council

*** Local government areas of Cairns Regional Council, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council