Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package

Financial support to eligible businesses impacted by the recent Circuit Breaker lockdown

When the Victorian Government announced the five-day Circuit Breaker Action on Friday 12 February, many businesses were thrown into limbo with a previously anticipated eventful weekend. Valentine’s Day, Australian Open crowd, and Chinese New Year celebration reservations and orders were all cancelled. The Government recognised the hardship that some businesses had to face with this action, which was required to limit the spread of COVID-19 and created a $143 million Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package to provide financial support to eligible, impacted businesses.

Within this package, there are four initiatives available:

1. Business Costs Assistance Program

   This program was created to help eligible businesses with costs incurred due to the circuit breaker action. For instance, businesses may have incurred costs through loss of perishable food or produce and cancelled bookings.
   Eligible businesses with an annual payroll of up to $3 million can receive a one-off grant of $2000, whether they have employees or not.
   This program is now open for applications until the program funds are exhausted or 11:59 pm on 16 March 2021, whichever is earlier. Therefore, it’s best to act quickly and get your application in as soon as possible.
   For more information and to apply:
   https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/circuit-breaker-action-business-support-package/business-costs-assistance-program

2. Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund – Circuit Breaker Action Payment

   Eligible businesses who received a grant through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will receive a further one-off payment of $3000 to help with costs incurred due to the circuit breaker action. Please note that businesses that receive this payment will not be eligible to receive the Business Costs Assistance Program grant.
   You do not need to apply for this payment, and you will be contacted with further information.

3. Victorian Accommodation Support Program
   

   As an expansion of the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program, this program includes tourist accommodation premises in Greater Melbourne. This will support accommodation providers whose bookings were cancelled due to the circuit breaker action.
   The $16.2 million program supports tourism accommodation providers with a grant of one of two tiers of support for those with demonstrated booking cancellations between Friday 12 February and Wednesday 17 February 2021:

   • Tier 1: Funding of $2250 (ex GST) per Accommodation Premises experiencing 10 or fewer cancelled nights.
   • Tier 2: Funding of $4500 (ex GST) per Accommodation Premises with 11 or more cancelled nights.

The Victorian Accommodation Support Program will open soon.
To register your interest in this program now, click here:
https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/circuit-breaker-action-business-support-package/victorian-accommodation-support-program

4. Travel Voucher schemes
   

   The previous Regional Travel Voucher Scheme has been updated with a huge boost and has expanded to include Greater Melbourne. There are now two types of travel voucher schemes to encourage Victorians to travel across the state:

   • a new Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme with 40,000 vouchers to support travel in greater Melbourne will launch soon
   • an expanded Regional Travel Voucher Scheme with an additional 10,000 vouchers to support travel in regional Victoria

This brings to 200,000 the total number of vouchers offered under the travel voucher schemes.

Please contact us if you require any assistance with this program.

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Reference: https://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/circuit-breaker-action-business-support-package