In these challenging times both the Federal Government and NSW State Government have responded with a suite of stimulus measures. Key announcements are made regularly but with so much information it can often be difficult to navigate.
In an effort to assist, RDA Central West will be releasing both our grant updates and this e-News, bi-monthly for a period. We hope this will help define any key economic stimulus packages and general grant details that may be helpful for Central West businesses, employers and employees as well as families and communities.
Click through via the READ MORE button below to get the latest updates on some of the economic stimulus measurements created to assist business as well as some general Government grants.
In this edition, these include further information to: JobKeeper Payments for employers; JobKeeper Payment for sole traders; $10,000 grants to provide relief for NSW small businesses battling COVID-19; COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund: Airfreight support for essential agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries; Tax relief measures for eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19; ACCC – Advice for business and consumers re: events/ travel cancellations; the Community-University Partnership grant and the Tackling Tough Times Together grant program. Click through via the READ MORE button, below, for further details and direct links.
If you have any queries regarding any of this information, please contact RDA Central West’s Grants Officer: t. (02) 6369 1600 or e. grants@rdacentralwest.org.au
JobKeeper Payments for Employers
The Federal Government is introducing a subsidy program to support employees and business. The JobKeeper Payment is designed to help businesses significantly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak cover the costs of their employees’ wages, so that more employees can retain their job and continue to earn an income.
This assistance will help businesses to keep people in their jobs and re-start when the crisis is over. For employees, this means they can keep their job and earn an income – even if their hours have been cut.
https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_sheet_supporting_businesses_1.pdf
JobKeeper Payment for Sole Traders
Sole traders may be eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment if their turnover has reduced. Following registration by the eligible business, the Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee for a maximum of 6 months.
This will support sole traders to maintain their income and connection with employees.
COVID-19 Small Business Support Fund:
$10,000 grants to provide relief for NSW small businesses
Thousands of small businesses across NSW struggling to cope with the COVID-19 shutdown will receive grants of up to $10,000 under a new assistance scheme announced by the NSW State Government last week.
The NSW Government will put $750 million into the Small Business Support Fund as the centrepiece of a third wave of support measures to keep small businesses afloat. For example, many local cafés, restaurants, corner shops, gyms and small accommodation providers will be eligible to apply.
Applications for a small business grant of up to $10,000 will be available through Service NSW within a fortnight and remain open until 1 June 2020.
For further details:
COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund:
Airfreight support for essential agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries
The Australian Government is backing Australia’s agriculture and seafood export sectors through a new $110 million initiative to help exporters get their high-quality produce into key overseas markets, with return flights bringing back vital medical supplies, medicines and equipment critical to the ongoing health response.
The target is high-value agricultural and fisheries exports, predominantly for perishable products where Australian exporters have important established customers in markets. The sorts of products that may be eligible include seafood (including lobsters), premium red meat (including beef and pork), dairy (such as fresh milk and yoghurt) and horticulture (such as premium fruits and packaged salad or vegetables). Food products will be exported subject to adequate domestic supply.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is setting up an information line and a process to capture from exporters information on the products outlined above.
For more information and to register your interest, visit the dedicated page at: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/ or call t. (02) 6272 2444.
Tax relief measures for eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19
As part of the NSW government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus package the following tax relief measures are available to eligible businesses:
Payroll tax relief for businesses with grouped Australian wages of no more than $10 million
- 25% reduction in annual tax liability when annual reconciliations are lodged (due 28 July).
- For businesses who lodge and pay monthly there is no payment required for the months of March, April and May 2020.
Threshold increase – 2020/2021 Financial Year
- The tax-free threshold will increase from $900,000 to $1 million for the financial year commencing on 1 July 2020.
- You can find out more about these measures at:
- https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/payroll-tax
ACCC – Advice for business and consumers re: events/travel cancellations
The ACCC has issued advice for consumers and businesses on their rights and obligations if events, flights or travel services are cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), or if people wish to cancel their travel plans.
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/advice-on-event-and-travel-cancellations-due-to-covid-19
Community-University Partnership grant
Grants of up to $1,000 are currently available through the CSU Community – University Partnership grant program. If you’re a community group, school, sporting club, Indigenous group or cultural organisation, you can apply for a grant of up to $1,000 to help boost and support your project.
Community University Partnership grants are available in all Charles Sturt University campus cities:
Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga. You can choose from six categories: Art & Culture; Education; Indigenous Engagement; Health & Wellbeing; Environmental Sustainability or Sport.
There are two rounds planned for the 2020 calendar year:
Round 1 Opened: 9 March 2020 Closes: 6 April 2020
Round 2 Opens: 13 July 2020 Closes: 10 August 2020
For further information: https://about.csu.edu.au/community/grants
Tackling Tough Times Together grant program
Grants to assist communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought are currently available through the Tackling Tough Times Together grant program – providing the foundation for rural and regional renewal.
Not-for-Profit community-based organisations are invited to apply for grants of up to $60,000. Rolling grants program, the current funding round closes 28 May 2020 and will be assessed late August 2020. For further information click here
If you have any queries regarding any of this information, please contact RDA Central West’s Grants Officer: t. (02) 6369 1600 or e. grants@rdacentralwest.org.au
To read about the Australian Federal Government’s economic response to coronavirus, visit:
https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus
To read about the NSW Government’s Health and Economic Stimulus Package, visit:
https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/Covid-19Stimulus