Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package – March 9th 2022
What is it?
A new COVID-19 Business Assistance Package has been announced for Western Australian businesses adversely affected by increasing COVID-19 cases in the community and implementation of Level 1 public health and social measures.
The package includes eight tailored programs, which will be administered by a range of State Government agencies. The grants are in addition to the $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package announced on 10th February.
The 8 programs available to small businesses are as follows, subject to meeting relevant conditions:
Rent Relief
- Tenant rent relief scheme – provides grants of up to $3,000 for eligible small business tenants (based on $500 per week for 6 weeks)
- Landlord rent relief scheme – support for eligible landlords with $1,500 if they voluntarily match the government’s rent relief payments ($3,000 per tenant)
- Tenants leasing from the government – payments of up to $6,000 to be delivered directly through the relevant agency and no application is required
Rent relief will be available to small businesses who meet all the following criteria:
- Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any four-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021
- Provide proof of tenancy (lease) in WA (excluding Government tenants)
Applications will be managed by the Small Business Development Corporation and more details will be available soon.
Landlord relief will be available to Landlords that meet all the following criteria:
- Have provided rent relief of $3,000 to tenants qualifying for the small business rent relief (under criteria above)
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million
- Have a tenanted premises located in WA
Application details will be available soon.
Rent relief will be offered to business tenants of Government buildings that meet all the following criteria:
- Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000.Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any six-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021.
- Provide proof of tenancy (lease) of a WA Government-owned building in WA.
The eligibility conditions above have been updated in accordance with changes to certain conditions announced on 4th March 2022. Applications open Thursday 10 March the website for the Small Business Development Corporation https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus.
Other Relief
- Outdoor Dining – Up to $5,000 in reimbursements of eligible costs for creating or expanding alfresco dining to better fit with public health measures
- Licensed Venues – Licence renewal fees for liquor licences for eligible businesses will be waived for 2022 and reimbursements paid to businesses that have already paid. Further fee variations and concessions will be allowed for licensed businesses to enable al fresco services and sales of takeaway alcohol with takeaway meals.
- Nightclubs – Payments of up to $50,000 for eligible nightclubs dealing with strict attendance caps of up to 500 people
- Entertainment Venues – Payments of up to $50,000 to provide cashflow assistance to a range of larger indoor entertainment venues particularly affected by capacity restraints.
Industry Specific Packages Previously Announced
Border impacted Businesses
On 10 February 2022, the Premier announced a $77 million support package to provide financial assistance to small and medium sized businesses in the following industries:
- International Education
- Tourism
- Aviation
- Events
Applications for these support programs will open soon.
Hospitality and Performing Arts Businesses
- Applications are now open for the Small Business Assistance Grant – December 2021 to assist small businesses that were directly financially impacted by the Chief Health Officer’s COVID Restrictions (Directions) from 23 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.
- This grant is available to small businesses operating within the hospitality sector, the music events industry or the creative and performing arts sector.
- Eligible employing businesses will receive $1,130 for each impacted day (up to a maximum of $12,500), while eligible non-employing small businesses will receive $400 for each impacted day (up to a maximum of $4,400).
If you would like to discuss with us how these relief packages may be relevant for your business please get in touch by phone or email.
Further information and updates are available at https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus/grants
