Circuit Breaker Business Support Package

The Victorian Government initially launched the $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to assist small to medium businesses and sole traders, under the circuit breaker restrictions announced on 27 May 2021. Yesterday, with the extended lockdown announcement, the Victorian Government announced the expansion of this package with a new allocation of up to $209.3 million across the Business Cost Assistance Program and the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund, taking the total package to $460 million. The package will support businesses unable to operate due to these necessary public health measures, including targeted support for the events industry.

The package includes:

• a $371 million second round of the Business Costs Assistance Program
• a $70 million new round of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
• $20 million in targeted support for the events industry.

Business Costs Assistance Program

The Victorian Government’s $371 million Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two will assist eligible small to medium businesses most affected by the restrictions announced on Thursday 27 May 2021 and extended beyond Thursday 3 June 2021.

The program offers grants of up to $5,000 to eligible small and medium businesses, including employing and non-employing businesses. The grants will support businesses in eligible sectors directly impacted by restrictions.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, businesses must:

• be located within Victoria
• operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for this program
• have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate remotely
• have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
• have been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Thursday 27 May 2021
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at Thursday 27 May 2021
• be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.

Employing businesses must also:

• be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
• attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Eligible Sectors

For a list of eligible sectors please see the list of eligible ANZSIC classes.

Information for other or previous grant recipients:

Businesses that receive a grant under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 are not eligible for a grant under this program.

Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria and have received assistance through the previous three rounds of the Business Support Fund, payroll tax rebate/waiver, or other COVID-19 business support programs are eligible to apply for a grant under this program.

For more information see frequently asked questions (FAQs) .

Grant amount

Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment of $2,500 or $5,000.

The grant amount payable to an eligible business is determined by:

1. the business’ industry sector (see Eligible ANZSIC classes)
2. the business’ location:
   1. businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $2,500
   2. businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 and further restrictions from 4 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $5,000.

Information you need for your application

When applying for this grant you will need:

• a valid Australian business number (ABN) for your business in one of these eligible business sectors. The ANZSIC class linked to your ABN registration must be one of these eligible sectors
• if you employ people, your WorkCover Employer Number (WEN) or, if this is yet to be issued, a WorkSafe Application Reference Number (WRN)
• a valid proof of identity document (Australian driver licence, Australian Passport, Medicare Card and Australian visa information and foreign passport).
• Please make sure your ABN registration information is current, along with ASIC registration, or relevant regulator information where required.

Incomplete or incorrect information may delay your application assessment. Please complete the application correctly and provide all relevant documentation.

Applicants with multiple businesses

You can only apply for one grant per ABN. If you have separate ABNs for your businesses, you must submit separate applications for each ABN. Each business or ABN must satisfy all the eligibility criteria.

How to apply

The program will open for applications on today and open until 11:59pm Thursday 24 June 2021.

You can access the application here.

 Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

The $70 million Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 supports eligible licensed hospitality venues.

Grants of $3,500 for businesses with a premises in regional Victoria and $7,000 for businesses with a premises in metropolitan Melbourne will be available to eligible liquor licensees operating a restaurant, hotel, café, pub, bar, club, or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol.

• Eligible liquor licensees with an eLicence email address will receive an email containing their grant application link from Business Victoria from Thursday 3 June 2021.
• Liquor licensees without an eLicence email address must set one up on their Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Liquor Portal by 20 June 2021 to receive their grant application link from Business Victoria within five business days.

Applications for a grant can only be submitted through the link emailed by Business Victoria.

Before you submit an application, please read all the information on this page, including the program guidelines and the frequently asked questions (FAQs). Applicants must also ensure they have the required documentation before applying.

Eligibility criteria

Liquor licensees who have received their application form link from Business Victoria are eligible to apply.

To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must also:

• operate a licensed bar, restaurant, pub, club, hotel, café or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol (Premises) located in Victoria on 27 May 2021
• hold a general or late night (general), full club, restaurant and cafe, producer’s or on-premises or late night (on-premises) liquor licence as of 27 May 2021
• provide a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 that is valid in 2021 for serving food on the same premises
• be registered for goods and services tax (GST) on 27 May 2021
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 27 May 2021
• be registered with the responsible Commonwealth or Victorian regulator.
• For employing businesses only, the applicant must attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Businesses who hold a food certificate but do not hold a liquor licence are not eligible for a grant under this program. Businesses who hold a liquor licence but do not have a food certificate for the same premises are also not eligible for a grant under this program.

Businesses can only receive a grant from either the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021, not both.

If you submit applications to both programs and are found to be eligible under both programs, you will only receive one grant.

You should check your eligibility for both programs before deciding to apply.

If you have received funding through previous business support programs, you may also qualify for this grant if you meet all the eligibility criteria.

Grant amount

Eligible businesses will receive $3,500 per premises in regional Victoria.

Eligible businesses will receive $7,000 per premises in metropolitan Melbourne.

The funds may be used to assist with:

• meeting business costs, including utilities, wages or rent
• seeking financial, legal, or other advice to support business continuity planning
• developing the business through marketing and communications activities
• any other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

How to apply

You can only submit an application online through the form link sent by Business Victoria to the liquor licensee’s eLicence email address.

Liquor licensees without an eLicence email address must set one up on the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Liquor Portal by 20 June 2021 to receive a grant application form link from Business Victoria.

You must complete all questions in the application form and attach all requested documentation to ensure a timely assessment and grant payment.

Only one application is permitted per premises. A business must submit a separate application for each premises if it has more than one premises under the same ABN.

Applications must be submitted before 11:59pm on 24 June 2021.

Victorian Events Support Package

The $20 million package dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit-breaker restrictions. The details of this package are still to be announced.

Should you have any questions or need any help applying for the grant, or ensuring you receive all available assistance, please reach out to our team at Rose Partners and we will do our best to assist.

Stay safe.

The Team at Rose Partners