Included in the State Government’s support package for businesses:

• $190 million for $2500 grants for businesses whose staff could not work from home with a payroll up to $10 million, including sole traders who can’t work as a result of restrictions;
• $40.7 million for $3500 grants for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and;
• $20m Events Support Fund for businesses impacted by cancelled bookings and shows.

The $250 million package provides $100 million more than the $143 million Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package provided during the ‘Valentines Day lockdown’ in February of 2021.

Since this lockdown was announced on 27 May, the Victorian Chamber has been calling on both the state and federal governments to compensate and protect businesses from further lockdowns by enacting four key priorities:

1. A ramped-up vaccine program. Victorians have embraced mass vaccinations, now let’s roll it out with urgency and at scale;
2. Action and immediate work on a fit-for-purpose national quarantine facility at Avalon or Mickleham to stop COVID-19 escaping into our community from overseas;
3. Everyone check-in and get tested if you have symptoms. Every business must have the state system up and working;
4. We must shift our attitude to keeping business open and scrap the lockdown lever forever.

“Victorian business owners will sleep easier tonight with the welcome news of State support. The support package won’t replace normal revenue, but will help to cover rent and perishable stock losses,” said Victorian Chamber Chief Executive, Paul Guerra.

“The State has stepped up and we would like to see even more support from the Federal Government urgently, preferably in the form of a wage subsidy. When Australians needed support in 2020, both State and Federal Governments were there contributing $7 billion and $46 billion respectively. As we know, COVID-19 crosses borders and so should support for business and workers."

Five new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Sunday morning, bringing the total to 49 active cases across Victoria, with the DHHS listing more than 170 exposure sites.

For more information and details on how to apply for the Business Costs Assistance Program, Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or the Victorian Events Support Package, head to the Business Victoria website here.

More information and help

For more information about what requirements are in place and what resources are available for your business, visit the Victorian Chamber’s COVID-19 resources page here.

As always, the most up-to-date information about restrictions are available on the Victoria Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) website. For information about how restrictions affect your business, visit the Business Victoria website.

If you, as an employer or an employer’s representative feel unsure about what your organisation has in place or would like help in putting a plan in place, please do not hesitate to contact the Victorian Chamber’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team on 03 8662 5196.

Members can also call our Workplace Relations Advice Line on 03 8662 5222 to discuss their employment obligations and any issues that arise.