KW Insights | Victorian Lockdown Assistance Package 

The Victorian State Government has announced additional support to workers and businesses following the lockdown #6 which saw both metropolitan and regional Victoria placed into lockdown following an outbreak of new Delta-strain COVID-19 cases in the state.

Covid-19 Disaster Payments

Eligible employees across the state may be able to receive up to $750 per week if they lost 20 or more hours of work that week, and $450 if they lost more than 20 hours of work that week. These payments are up from $600 and $375 from the last lockdown respectively. These payments will be made via Services Australia.

Business Costs Assistance Program

Under the new State-Commonwealth business support package confirmed today, more than 90,000 businesses will be automatically paid a Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three grant of $2,800 – an allocation of $266 million.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund

New payments of $5,000 to $20,000 will be made to more than 8,900 hospitality venues across Victoria that received funding support from the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund through the May/June and July lockdowns. Payments will be automatic and graded by venue capacity to a total of $68.8 million. 

Alpine Business Support Program

Alpine businesses will receive between $5,000 (off-mountain) and $20,000 (employing businesses, on mountain) under a $10.6 million extension of the Alpine Business Support Program.

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund

Some $54 million will be added to the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund announced last week, allowing grants of up to $8,000 to be paid to small businesses that are not eligible for support under existing programs and have experienced a 70 per cent reduction in turnover.

For more information on these grants, please visit business.vic.gov.au or contact your King and Whittle Adviser.