State & Territory support

Each State and Territory has some form of business support for certain businesses impacted by COVID-19, in addition to some general waivers, reductions or rebates on some Government licensing and fees.

Pandemic Leave disaster payment for Victoria – If you have to self-isolate or quarantine at home because of COVID-19 or are caring for someone who is, and cannot earn an income as a result, you might be eligible for a $1,500 payment.

Western Australia

Support	Description	Closes
Local Capability Funding	To assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Western Australia to increase their capability and competitiveness as suppliers of products, services and works to the Western Australian State Government, major projects and other important markets.	30 June 2021
Apprentice support	A one-off payment of $6,000 for an apprentice and $3,000 for a trainee employed from 1 July 2020.
Incentive to employ apprentices	Incentive of up to $8,500 for employing an apprentice or trainee from 1 July 2019	30 June 2021
Payroll Tax relief	The tax-free threshold increased to $1m on 1 July 2020. Automatic grants of $17,500 are being paid to employers with annual Australian taxable wages of more than $1m and up to $4m in 2018-19.
Commercial Landlord land tax grants	Grants equivalent to 25 per cent of the landlord’s land tax bill for 2019-20 for the property in which an eligible tenant is provided relief will be paid to landlords.

Victoria

Support	Description	Closes
Business Support Fund	One-off grant of $10,000 for employers in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and $5,000 in regional local government areas.	14 Sep 2020
CBD Business Support Fund	$20m fund for CBD businesses. No details available as yet but register your interest.
Hospitality economy support	$30m fund for hospitality businesses. No details available as yet but register your interest.
Payroll tax – deferrals	Businesses with payrolls up to $10 million can defer their liabilities for the first half of the 2020-21 financial year.
Payroll tax – refunds	Eligible businesses can claim an emergency tax relief refund of payroll tax already paid in the 2019-20 financial year.

New South Wales

Support	Description	Closes
Export assistance grants	Up to $10,000 for up to 1,000 eligible small or medium NSW export businesses that have experienced disruptions to freight channels or reductions in orders. Opening soon.
Payroll tax deferral	Option of deferring 2019-20 payroll tax to October 2020. Instalment plans can be entered into after October 2020. Payroll tax threshold has increased to $1m for 2020-21.

Queensland

Support	Description	Closes
Adaption grant	Funding of up to $10,000 for regional micro and small businesses to adapt and sustain operations.	When allocation exhausted
Payroll tax relief	Payroll tax deferrals for the 2020 calendar year.	31 Dec 2020

South Australia

Support	Description	Closes
Support when employing apprentices	A range of grants and support when you hire an apprentice – up to $5,000 for hiring an apprentice, $1,500 on equipment reimbursement, and up to $5,200 off the Group Training Organisation charge out rate.	Generally 31 Aug 2020

Northern Territory

Support	Description	Closes
Business hardship package	A package of concessions including payroll tax waiver or deferral, council rates, utilities and rate concessions.	30 Sep 2020

Australian Capital Territory

Support	Description	Closes
Rate deferrals	Rate deferrals for commercial property owners affected by COVID-19.	1 Apr 2021
Payroll tax deferral	All ACT businesses with Australia-wide wages of up to $10 million can apply to defer their 2020-21 payroll tax, until 1 July 2022.