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Australian and Queensland Governments COVID-19 support and information

The Australian Government and Queensland Government released the COVID-19 Stimulus Package to help support individuals and small businesses counteract the negative impact which COVID-19 is expected to have on the economy and to boost short term cash management for small and medium businesses that employ staff.

The Australian Government and Queensland Government has announced a range of initiatives to support businesses affected by COVID-19. The initiatives are designed to help businesses of all sizes withstand the economic impacts of the pandemic and support job.

For all your queries contact: Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687

Easing of Business Restrictions

The Queensland Government has developed a plan to ease coronavirus (COVID-19) business restrictions to ensure businesses can reopen in a way that increases business activity but does not compromise the health of customers, staff and the community.

These eased restrictions will come into effect at 11:59pm on 15 May 2020.

For more information on this, visit business.qld.gov.au

Stay informed

The Australian Government now has an official "Coronavirus Australia" app in the Apple App Store or Google Play. or join our WhatsApp channel on iOS or Android.

Emergency business hotlines:

Federal Government Business Hotline - 13 28 46
Queensland Business Hotline - 1300 654 687
Australian Taxation Office Emergency Hotline - 1800 806 218
Centrelink Hotline - 13 74 68

Australian Government Small Business Support Page

Visit the Australian Government business website for coronavirus information and support for business.

Here you will find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses.

Information and services to help you if you’re affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) or you are looking for more details on how the Australian Government can help visit the Services Australia website.

Queensland Government Small Business Support Page

The Queensland Government has support for those impacted by the international outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Visit the novel coronavirus small business support page for more information.

COVID-19 Grants

There are a number of community and business packages available for COVID-19 relief from the Australian and Queensland Governments.

Often finding and accessing this funding can seem a complicated and difficult task, visit: https://townsville.grantguru.com.au/ to see the full list of available grants. Please read the eligibility carefully, as some grants are for very specific areas.

Government advice for small businesses

Know your responsibilities

For information on your responsibilities as an employer read through this page. Ensure that this information is shared and accessible to your staff.

Small business mentoring sessions

Register your business with Mentoring for Growth (M4G), a free program which helps you to engage with experienced business mentors.

Small business financial workshops

Small businesses can access a series of workshops to learn about financial management and business planning.

Support for tourism operators and hospitality providers

Fees and charges relief for tourism operators and hospitality providers can be found here.

Counselling and support for small businesses

Counselling and Support website

A range of resources and support services are available for impacted businesses who feel they need additional mentoring or assistance. Support services for businesses impacted
If your employment has been impacted, access information about employee rights, entitlements and support available. Support for impacted employees
The Queensland Government provides interpreting services through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) or phone 131 450.

Further detailed information for small businesses

Support	Details
JobKeeper Payment for Employers and Employees	Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses significantly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak will be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months to eligible businesses. How to apply: Employers can register their interest from 30 March 2020 Eligible employers will be able to apply for the scheme by means of an online application. The first payment will be received from the ATO in the first week of May. For more information visit the Coronavirus information and support for business webpage.
JobKeeper Payment for Sole Traders/ Self-employed	The JobKeeper Payment understands that a sole trader is a business structure where the individual owner is legally responsible for all aspects of the business. A sole trader may or may not employ other people in their business. The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months to eligible businesses. Eligibility their business has a turnover of less than $1 billion and their turnover will be reduced by more than 30 per cent relative to a comparable period a year ago (of at least a month); or their business has a turnover of $1 billion or more and their turnover will be reduced by more than 50 percent relative to a comparable period a year ago (of at least a month). How to apply: Sole Traders/Self-employed can register their interest from 30 March 2020 Eligible employers will be able to apply for the scheme by means of an online application. The first payment will be received from the ATO in the first week of May. For more information visit the Coronavirus information and support for business webpage.
Power Bill relief	Your business may be eligible for a $500 rebate off energy bills if you consume less than 100,000kWh. This will be automatically applied on your business electricity bills. For more information download the Electricity Relief For Households And Businesses Q&A factsheet.
Grants and support	Grants and support Payroll tax support for QLD businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) Fees and charges relief for tourism operators and hospitality providers impacted by COVID-19 Matched funding for QLD agriculture, food and fishing exporters affected by the COVID-19 outbreak Low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff
A hold on evictions for renters (individuals and businesses)	The Australian Government, together with the states and territories have agreed on a common set of principles that will impact Businesses: a short term, temporary moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent to be applied across commercial tenancies impacted by severe rental distress due to coronavirus tenants and landlords are encouraged to agree on rent relief or temporary amendments to the lease the reduction or waiver of rental payment for a defined period for impacted tenants the ability for tenants to terminate leases and/or seek mediation or conciliation on the grounds of financial distress commercial property owners should ensure that any benefits received in respect of their properties should also benefit their tenants in proportion to the economic impact caused by coronavirus landlords and tenants not significantly affected by coronavirus are expected to honour their lease and rental agreements cost-sharing or deferral of losses between landlords and tenants, with Commonwealth, state and territory governments, local government and financial institutions to consider mechanisms to provide assistance Commercial tenants, landlords and financial institutions are encouraged to talk about short term agreements. More information about this will be available this week. Visit business.gov.au for updated information.
Assistance for affected regions, communities and industries	The Government has set aside an initial $1 billion allocation to support those regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as: tourism agriculture education For more information visit the Assistance for affected regions, communities and industries webpage.
PAYG withholding relief	The Government is now providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium sized businesses, and not-for-profits (including charities) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. The Boosting Cash Flow for Employers provides eligible employees with tax-free payments to help cover the costs of employee wages. These payments are equal to 50% of PAYG Withholding withheld from salaries and wages paid between 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020 up to a maximum of $25,000 (over the 6 months). How to receive this grant: The payment will be delivered by the ATO as a credit in the activity statement from 28 April 2020 upon lodging eligible activity statements. Where the applied credit puts the business into a refund position, the ATO will deliver the refund within 14 days. For more information visit the Australian Government - Boosting cash flow for employers webpage.
Instant assets write-off threshold	The instant asset write-off threshold has been increased to $150,000 until 30 June 2020. This means that any asset purchased from 12 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 costing less than $150,000 excluding GST will be fully deductible in the year of purchase. For more information visit the Australian Government - Increasing the Instant Asset Write-Off webpage.
Employees of Apprentices and/or Trainees	Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50% of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Employers will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $21,000 per apprentice or trainee ($7,000 per quarter). Please note: The apprentice or trainee must have been in training with your business at 1 March 2020 Employers of any size that re-engage an eligible out-of-trade apprentice or trainee will have access to this subsidy How to receive this subsidy: Register for the subsidy from early April 2020. Final claims must be lodged by 31 December 2020 Please contact Apprenticeship Support for more information on how to apply and eligibility criteria. For more information visit the Supporting apprentices and trainees webpage.
Deferral of Payroll Tax	The Queensland Government has also released a relief package to defer lodging and paying payroll tax returns until 31 July 2020. You may be eligible if: You are an employer who pays $6.5 million or less in Australian wages and; Your current turnover, profit, customers, bookings, retail sales or other factors have been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19. How to apply: Please see the following link where, if eligible, you can complete the online payroll tax deferral application form.
Government Benefits (individuals)	You may be eligible to receive a one-off payment of $750. The payment will be made to all social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concessional card holders. This includes individuals receiving Newstart, families receiving family tax benefits and those who hold commonwealth senior’s health cards. How to receive this payment: This payment will be paid automatically from 31 March 2020 by Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Please view the following link detailing who is eligible to receive this payment. Stimulus payments to households to support growth (PDF)

Support for Individuals

The Queensland Government has opened a new online portal that will connect Queenslanders who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 with new job opportunities. This is among some of the recent initiatives that are part of a $4 billion package of measures to support Queenslanders’ health, Queensland jobs and Queensland businesses. These initiatives are designed to help people withstand the economic impacts of the pandemic and support jobs.

For information on this and more, visit the Queensland Government website.

Assistance to find work

Support	Details
Jobs Finder Queensland – Support for Jobseekers	Queensland Government has rolled out a new portal for people whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19 and are looking for work. You can register your details to be matched with suitable job opportunities in priority job sectors. Visit the Queensland Government website for more details.
Free online TAFE courses	TAFE Queensland has skill sets and micro-credentials in a range of different courses available online. To qualify, you must be a Queensland resident, and a job seeker or worker impacted by COVID-19. Visit TAFE Queensland for more information.
Worker Transition scheme and rapid response	The Worker Transition Scheme and rapid response provides a suite of information and support services for those workers who may find themselves without work as a result of business closures or redundancy programs. For help in accessing the appropriate services, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68). Visit the Queensland Government website for more information.
Changes to temporary work visa arrangements	The Federal Government has issued a series of changes to temporary visa holders in response to current events. Visit the Australian Government website for more information.

Financial Assistance for Individuals

Support	Details
JobKeeper payment	Employers may be eligible to access a subsidy if they are unable to keep you on payroll due to COVID-19. If you have been stood down or recently lost your job due to COVID-19, talk to your employer to see if this subsidy would allow them to re-engage you until business restrictions are lifted. Find out more from business.gov.au.
Supporting apprentices and trainees wage subsidy	If you are an apprentice/trainee and worried about employment, your employer may be eligible to receive a 50% subsidy for wages to retain you as an apprentice/trainee. Find out more about this from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Support for individuals and households	You may be eligible for financial assistance from the Australian Government. This includes: Income support payments and a new, time-limited coronavirus supplement of $550 per fortnight or existing and new recipients of the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit. Up to 2 separate $750 payments if you receive social security, veteran and other income support, or hold an eligible concession card. Early release of up to $10,000 of your superannuation in 2019–20, and a further $10,000 in 2020–21. For more information, visit the Australian Government website.
Assistance for affected regions, communities and industries	The Government has set aside an initial $1 billion allocation to support those regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as: tourism agriculture education For more information visit the Assistance for affected regions, communities and industries webpage.

Guidance and Support

Support	Details
Seek help to reduce your expenses	If you have lost your job, or are worried about losing your job, it makes sense to reduce your expenses where possible. Queensland Government and organisations are moving to help people achieve this. Rental evictions on hold – State and territory governments will be moving to put a temporary ban on evictions for 6 months for commercial and residential tenancies affected financially by COVID-19. Relief for residential tenants – If you are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, you may be eligible for a crisis payment of up to $500/week for up to 4 weeks. Call your bank – If you need flexibility with finance, loan, and debt, talk to your bank sooner versus later. Utility assistance – The Queensland Government is aiding households through a $200 utility payment to assist with electricity and water bills this year. If you are struggling or in crisis, get help from moneysmart.gov.au to help with financial counselling.
Job searching and career guidance	In addition to job seeking websites, there are a variety of government-based support services available: Centrelink Disability Employment Service Jobactive and Jobsearch Labour hire What’s Next My Skills
Checking your rights and entitlements	Understand your rights and entitlements as an employee. Find out about: Flexible working arrangements Leave entitlements Awards and wages Workplaces conditions, health, and safety. If you believe you have been unfairly dismissed by your employer, contact the Fair Work Commission.
Mental health support	If you are struggling with your mental health during this time, there are a variety of government-based support services available. Resources from Queensland Mental Health Commission Mental wellbeing support service Information, strategies, and advice on your wellbeing and mental health from Beyond Blue
Domestic and family violence Support	If you are experiencing domestic or family violence, find out about available information and services. Domestic violence portal Queensland Police Service domestic violence reporting tool.