This business support will be paid fortnightly, with automatic payments to approximately 175,000 eligible businesses across the state until 30 September, including sole traders, in industries ranging from hospitality to non-essential retail, accommodation, events businesses, hairdressing and beauty services.

The Victorian Chamber is proud to once again see our strong advocacy efforts and recommendations to Government reflected in this latest package. Our revised position on business support is reflected through the following support, which include:

• A further $448 million for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund available to small and medium-sized businesses across the state, with grants increasing from $14,000 to $20,000 and available to approximately 35,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the state.
• Automatic payments of $2,800, $5,600 and $8,400 per week over September, depending on payroll size, through a $1.6 billion boost to the Business Costs Assistance Program (BCAP).
• A further $298 million has been allocated to the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund, which will see payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 for each week of lockdown for hospitality premises in Melbourne that have previously received grant.
• An automatic top-up payment of between $10,000 and $40,000 as part of an Alpine Support Package to help sustain resorts through the remainder of the season and September school holidays, depending on business location and whether they employ staff.

The Victorian Chamber encourages members to apply for all the assistance to which they are entitled and will continue providing information and assistance on how to do so at victorianchamber.com.au.

To be attributed to Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra:

“It continues to be an extremely tough year for business and – particularly after this week - morale is at an all-time low. This funding extension will help businesses to make their way around the Monopoly board and try to hold on until they are able to trade viably again.

“While this funding is appreciated – and crucial – business needs a clear roadmap that gives certainty around when they can expect to be able to open and trade again. We need to get off this COVID-19 treadmill and have a destination to sprint towards.

“The Victorian Chamber is pleased that our engagement with government is reflected in today’s support package, and we will continue to advocate on behalf of all Victorian businesses.

“It is clear that getting vaccination rates to 70 and then 80 per cent levels is crucial to getting back to COVID-normal and Victorian businesses stand ready to assist in any way we can.”