The NSW and federal governments have launched expanded support for businesses and workers affected by extended lockdowns.
The Morrison and Berejiklian governments have upgraded their support responses to the coronavirus pandemic outbreaks and associated lockdowns.
The NSW government has expanded its COVID-19 business grants program, making grants of $7,500, $10,500 and $15,000 available to eligible businesses with annual wages up to $10 million to cover the first three weeks of restrictions.
This applies to eligible businesses experiencing a 30/50/70 per cent decline in turnover due to the restrictions, respectively. These will be made available from 19 July.
Similarly, businesses will benefit from payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for businesses with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million that have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover.
SME support payment
The federal and NSW governments have also announced that from week four of a lockdown (should there be a fourth week of lockdown), the Commonwealth will fund 50 per cent of the cost of a new SME business support payment. This is expected to be implemented and administered by Service NSW.
Eligible entities will receive 40 per cent of their NSW payroll payments, at a minimum of $1,500 and a maximum of $10,000 per week.
Entities will be eligible if their turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two-week period in 2019.
The support payment for SMEs will be available to non-employing and employing entities in NSW, including not-for-profits with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.
To receive the payment, businesses will be required to maintain their full-time, part-time and long-term casual staffing level as of 13 July.
Non-employing businesses such as sole traders are eligible for a payment of $1,000 a week.
The assistance will end when current lockdown restrictions are eased or when the Commonwealth hotspot declaration is removed.
Source :https://www.theadviser.com.au/breaking-news/41780-nsw-announces-covid-19-sme-support