New COVID-19 support package for NSW businesses

The package includes grants of between $5000 and $10,000 for small businesses, payroll tax deferrals for all employers, an extension of the Dine and Discover program to August 31 and the ability for people to use Dine and Discover vouchers for takeaway delivered directly to their home by the venue itself.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the centrepiece of the package was the small business support grants which will help businesses by alleviating cashflow constraints while trading is restricted. This can be used for business expenses such as rent, utilities and wages, for which no other government support is available.

Three different grant amounts will be available for small businesses depending on the decline in turnover experienced during the restrictions - $10,000 for a 70 per cent decline, $7000 for a 50 per cent decline and $5000 for a 30 per cent decline.

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The small business grants will be available for sole traders and non-for-profit organisations, with expanded criteria to assist most hospitality and tourism operators hit hard by the restrictions during school holidays.

Businesses will be able to apply for the grants through Service NSW from later in July and will need to show a decline in turnover across a minimum two-week period after the commencement of major restrictions on June 26.

The grants will be divided into two streams:

1. Small Business COVID-19 Support Grant. Available to businesses and sole traders with a turnover of more than $75,000 per annum but below the NSW 2020/21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020. These businesses must have fewer than 20 full time equivalent employees.

2. Hospitality and Tourism COVID-19 Support Grant. Available to tourism or hospitality businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 and an annual Australian wages bill of below $10 million, as at 1 July 2020.

In both instances businesses must have an ABN registered in NSW or be able to demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in NSW.

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Full criteria will be available in coming days on the Service NSW website.

Other key elements of the package announced include:

Dine and Discover vouchers will be able to be used for takeaway from eligible and registered Dine businesses during the restriction period, but food must be delivered direct to the home by the restaurant or café and not picked up. Dine and Discover vouchers cannot be redeemed for takeaway using third party delivery platforms.

A further one-month extension of Dine and Discover vouchers until August 31, 2021 to allow people more time to use them.

More than $11 million for increased support for people at risk of homelessness plus assistance to vulnerable temporary visa holders, asylum seekers and refugees.

An optional deferral of payroll tax payments due in July 2021 and the deferral of hotel June quarter gaming machine tax, with the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue able to provide for appropriate repayment arrangements on a case by case basis.

More information on the small business support grants and changes to the Dine and Discover program will be available shortly on the Service NSW website.

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