Various economic measures for eligible ACT businesses impacted by COVID-19

The ACT government is delivering an economic package of various support measures to help businesses survive the impacts of COVID-19.

Overview

The ACT government is delivering an economic survival package to support business and the community to survive the impacts of COVID-19, including the following measures:

Small business support schemes

• COVID-19 Business Support Grants
• COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme

Financial support for local tourism industry

• Accommodation and Tourism Venue Operator Support Program
• Small Tourism Operator COVID recovery payment
• Hire car and charter bus registration fee waivers extended to 31 March 2022
• Tourism Cooperative Marketing Fund
• COVID-Safe Tourism Co-Investment Program

Food business registration, outdoor dining and liquor licensing fee waivers

• Food business registration fee waiver extended until 31 March 2022.
• Outdoor dining permit fee waiver extended for another 12 months, until 30 June 2022.
• The annual licence fee waiver for some liquor licensees has been tapered to provide a 50% fee reduction for 12 months from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
• Micro-producer application fee reduction.
• Fee waivers do not need to be applied for, they will be applied automatically as part of the normal annual fee licensing process.

Payroll tax waivers, deferrals and exemptions

• Wages paid to apprentices or trainees employed after 1 August 2020 are exempt from payroll tax for the period from the start of the employment until 30 June 2022. Other waivers, deferrals and exemptions may be available, please check ACT Revenue Office for more information.

Rental relief for ACT government owned property tenants

• The ACT Government will waive rent payments for the month of September for community sector tenants of government-owned properties that have been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Tenants who have experienced a 30% reduction in turnover in August will be eligible for a full waiver of their September rent payments.

Commercial tenancy support measures

• Emergency measures have been put in place to help commercial tenants and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Advice and Support

• Up to 4 hours of one-on-one fully subsidised, tailored advice and access to online business development resources delivered by the Canberra Business Advice and Support Service.

How do you apply?

You can find out more about these measures at Economic Survival Package.