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ACCELERATED 2021 COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT NOW OPEN
Eligible NSW businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations can apply for up to $15,000 from the first of the NSW Government’s economic support packages: The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant.
Applications for the second tranche of assistance, which includes the Micro Business Support Grants and the JobSaver program, will open next Monday, 26 July.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government had directed over $4 billion to where it is needed most to help families and businesses during this difficult time.
“From the outset of the pandemic we’ve always said we would do whatever was necessary to protect people and jobs and this suite of measures will do exactly that,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These programs will provide timely and targeted support for businesses to help them with much needed cash flow, maintain employees and provide relief for business expenses, for which no other government support is available.
“We’re committed to keeping businesses in business, and people in jobs which is why we’re providing tax-free grants of between $7,500 and $15,000 to help alleviate some of the economic pressures being faced during the current COVID-19 lockdown.”
The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant will be available to NSW businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 and up to $50 million, and have a total annual wages bill of below $10 million.
Businesses can expect to start receiving funds from the Business Support Grant from the end of July.
Eligible businesses for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant will receive:
- $15,000 for a decline in turnover of 70 per cent, or more
- $10,500 for a decline in turnover of 50 per cent, or more
- $7,500 for a decline in turnover of 30 per cent, or more.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the digital application process would be available for business owners through Service NSW.
“The digital architecture is already in place to deliver these grants into the bank accounts of the businesses in need as quickly and as seamlessly as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
“Applying businesses will use the same quick and easy online application tool as previous grants, which saw 97 per cent of users give the process a thumbs up.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said small businesses were the backbone of the State’s economy, representing more than 98 per cent of businesses in NSW.
“It’s imperative that every effort is made to safeguard our businesses, no matter the size; we want to keep businesses thriving, whilst keeping our community safe”, Mr Tudehope said.
From 26 July, the Micro Business Support Grant will be available for eligible businesses with a turnover of between $30,000 and $75,000 that experience a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more. Eligible businesses will receive $1,500, tax-free, per fortnight of restrictions.
In addition, the joint NSW Government and Commonwealth JobSaver program will help small and medium businesses retain staff.
Eligible businesses with a turnover from $75,000 and up to $50 million, which maintain their staff headcount will receive tax-free fortnightly payments of 40 per cent of their weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week, and a maximum payment of $10,000 per week. Eligible non-employing businesses will receive $1,000 per week. These payments will also be made fortnightly.
For more information on the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants visit: www.nsw.gov.au.
Support for individuals impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders is available through Services Australia. For more information visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19.
NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR GREATER SYDNEY IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 - PLUS TWO VACCINATION HUBS OPEN
Given the number of infectious cases in the community, the NSW Government announced additional restrictions for Greater Sydney on the weekend to further limit the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain.
On the basis of updated health advice, the following changes are in effect across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, 30 July:
Retail premises will be required to close (‘click and collect’, takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers)
- Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies
- Pharmacies and chemists
- Petrol stations
- Car hire
- Banks and financial institutions
- Hardware, nurseries and building supplies
- Agricultural and rural supplies
- Pet supplies
- Post offices and newsagents
- Office supplies.- In addition to the stay-at-home rules, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs cannot leave their LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers (including aged and disability workers). Where those workers do need to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested every three days, even if they do not have symptoms
- Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times. They must be worn when you are working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food
- All carpooling to be stopped unless among members of the same household
- All construction to be paused
- Non-urgent maintenance, including cleaning services, and repair work on residential premises to be paused
Further, from 12.01am tomorrow, Wednesday, 21 July, employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so; failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.
All other restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour remain in place.
Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.
Further, two new mass vaccination centres are now open in NSW.
The first in Belmont, Lake Macquarie, was transformed from an old Bunnings Warehouse into a vaccine centre in six weeks and began administering jabs yesterday. The centre will have capacity to administer up to 20,000 Pfizer vaccinations each week and will employ around 100 nurses, 25 pharmacists/pharmacy technicians, and around 200 other support staff.
The other on Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD is also open and has capacity to administer up to 7,000 Pfizer vaccinations each week.
For the latest information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
INCREASED COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS FOR COVID SAFE WORKPLACES
The NSW Government has taken an important step in keeping the community safe by increasing the presence of compliance inspectors across Sydney and regional areas to ensure businesses are complying with COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson, and Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello, said inspectors would be checking businesses were doing their part to protect the community by wearing masks and enforcing the QR code check-in.
“The number one priority for the NSW Government at this time is keeping our communities safe and stopping the spread of the virus. It is important that everyone plays a part so we can get through to the other side,” Mr Anderson said.
“From 12 July 2021, the Service NSW QR code and mask wearing requirements were extended to include additional workplaces, such as construction, manufacturing and warehousing, supermarkets and retail. Customer Service compliance inspectors will be monitoring businesses to make sure they are doing the right thing, keeping us all safe.
“We know complying with new rules can be tough, which is why we will be working closely with businesses over the coming weeks to help them understand the new requirements and ensure COVID safe practices.”
Mr Dominello said it was vital that businesses were taking reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises are checking-in, including for takeaway orders.
“It is now mandatory to check-in at all workplaces, supermarkets and retail stores. It is vital that businesses are displaying the QR code correctly and taking reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises check-in using their phone or digital sign-in sheet,” Mr Dominello said.
“Inspectors from Liquor & Gaming, SafeWork NSW, Fair Trading and the Food Authority will be deployed across NSW, ensuring that is the case.”
Businesses who need to register for the NSW Government QR code can find the application form and more information at https://www.nsw.gov.au/register-your-business-as-covid-safe.
HEAD OF NEW REGIONAL HOUSING TASKFORCE NAMED
The new planning expert who will lead the taskforce aimed at combatting housing shortages and issues in regional areas has been announced by the NSW Government.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced that experienced planner Garry Fielding would chair the Regional Housing Taskforce and will commence work immediately.
“With the pandemic transforming the way we live and work, we’ve seen a noticeable shift in people leaving cities for a sea change or tree change in the regions,” Mr Barilaro said.
“But with that, prices are escalating. This is why we’ve set up this taskforce to provide independent advice to deliver more housing throughout the State.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said Mr Fielding would consult with the public and key stakeholders to identify the constraints to housing supply, diversity and affordability in the regions and deliver his report to government in September.
“We’ve asked Mr Fielding to examine the obstacles in the planning system preventing new housing being brought to market in the regions, and to identify solutions that will boost supply and encourage greater housing choice,” Mr Stokes said.
Minister for Housing Melinda Pavey welcomed the appointment to build on the work done to date under the NSW Government’s Housing Strategy 2041.
“Mr Fielding has a demonstrated track record of achieving results in planning,” Ms Pavey said.
“For more than 40 years, he has had extensive experience as a town planner at both a state and local level, the latter in senior executive roles in city and regional councils.”
Mr Fielding is a Life Fellow and former NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia and is the State appointed Chair of the Western Regional Planning Panel.
