The snap lockdown in Victoria has resulted in many businesses being impacted and, consequently, support packages being offered and updated.

For your information we have put together an overview of two Circuit Breaker Support Packages:

• Business Costs Assistance Program – Round Two
• Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

Business Costs Assistance Program – Round Two

 

Overview

On 30 May 2021, the Victorian Government announced a $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to support Victorian businesses most affected by the May-June 2021 circuit breaker action. An additional $209.3 million was announced by the Acting Premier on 2 June 2021. The $371 million second round of the Business Costs Assistance Program (the Program) will provide grants of either $2500 or $5,000 for eligible businesses directly affected by the circuit-breaker industry restrictions.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for the Program, a business must:

• Be located within Victoria; and
• Operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for this program; and
• have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate remotely; and
• Have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis; and
• Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 27 May 2021; and
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 27 May 2021; and
• Be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.

For employing businesses only:

• Be registered with WorkSafe Victoria; and
• Attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Other Eligibility Criteria

• Businesses that have received assistance through the Business Support Fund, payroll tax rebate/waiver, or other COVID-19 programs may apply for assistance under the Program.
• Businesses that receive a grant under the 2021 round of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund are not eligible for a grant under the Program.

Demonstration of Eligibility

Applicants must attest that they meet the eligibility criteria at the time of application and intend to remain trading at the end of the circuit breaker action. Applicants will also need to meet the eligibility criteria at the time the application is assessed by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).

To be eligible, an Applicant’s primary business activity must be in an eligible industry sector and this must be reflected in the Applicant’s ABN registration information. Applicants should check that their details on the Australian Business Register website are correct prior to submitting an application. This includes ensuring that the industry classification (ANZSIC class code) linked to their ABN registration correctly captures their primary business activity.

Applicants must provide details of a current proof of identity document. This must be one of the following:

• a driver licence or learner permit issued in any Australian jurisdiction; or
• an Australian Passport; or
• a Medicare Card; or
• a foreign passport for those issued with an Australian Visa.

Note: The identity document details must be for a person listed on the Australian Business Register as either the owner, co-owner, associate or authorised contact of the business.

If the current proof of identity is unable to be confirmed, Applicants will receive a follow-up email with instructions to amend their proof of identity details. If the applicant does not then rectify proof of identity details before the Program close date, the application will not be considered by the Department for this Program.

Available Funding

The total value of a grant under the Program is up to $5,000. For businesses that meet the standard eligibility criteria:

• Businesses that were directly affected by the circuit breaker industry restrictions between 28 May up to and including 3 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $2,500;
• Businesses that remain directly affected by the circuit breaker industry restrictions on and from 4 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $5,000.
• Eligible tourism businesses – accommodation, attractions and tourism operators – will receive up to an additional $4,500 so that all tourism businesses receive a total grant of $7,000 as part of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two.

The Department will determine the value of the grant based on an assessment of the Applicant’s business location and ANZSIC class.

How Can the Funding Be Spent?

Grant funds must be used to assist the business, for example on: 

• Meeting business costs, including utilities, wages or rent; 
• Seeking financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning;
• Developing the business through marketing and communications activities; or 
• Any other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

Assessment Process

Funding will be allocated through a grant application process, through which businesses are invited to apply for a grant.

As part of the assessment process, any information provided by Applicants will be shared and subject to verification with other government agencies (state and federal) including the Victorian State Revenue Office, WorkSafe Victoria, the Australian Business Register and the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs.

Any of the following circumstances may be taken into consideration in any decision whether to award a grant:

• Any adverse findings by a Government agency or local council regarding a business or its operation.
• A business is, or notice has been given that it will be, placed under external administration.
• There is a petition for bankruptcy or to wind up or deregister a company or business; and
• The business is or becomes deregistered or unregistered (including cancellation or lapse in registration or any relevant permit).

Businesses must ensure that their ABN registration information is current and accurate as at the time of application.

Compliance and Audit

Applications may be subject to audit by the Victorian Government, its representatives or the relevant Auditor-General and will be required to produce evidence (such as payroll reports to demonstrate impact) at the request of the Victorian Government for a period of four years after the grant has been approved.

If any information in the application is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, false or misleading, or grants are not applied for the purposes of the business in accordance with the terms of funding as set out in these Guidelines and any attached application, the grant will be repayable on demand.

Other information about this Program

The Program will be open for applications until program funds are exhausted or 11.59pm Thursday 24 June 2021, whichever is earlier.

Eligible ANZIC classes can be found here.

DJPR will endeavour to notify all Applicants of the outcome of their submitted application within 10 business days. There may be delays if your application:

• Does not meet all the eligibility criteria does not have correct evidence or documentation;
• Requires you to make changes;
• Is a duplicate application for the same business;
• Has incorrect information, such as ABN or bank details (for successful Applicants).

To apply for this grant click here.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

Overview

The $70 million Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 (Program) is part of the Victorian Government’s $460 million support package including the $250.71 million COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Business Support Package announced on 30 May and $209.3 million new allocation announced on 2 June 2021. 

Through the Program, liquor licensees (Licensees) may apply for grants of $3,500 per eligible premises in regional Victoria or $7,000 per eligible premises in metropolitan Melbourne. 

The Guidelines set out the eligibility criteria for support under the Program. Please ensure that you read the document carefully before completing the application form. 

The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Department) will send invitations to submit applications under this Program directly to the Licensee by using the same email account as the licence email registered on the Licensees’ Liquor Portal Account with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. Completed application forms are to be submitted to the Department.

Standard Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Program:

• Businesses must operate a licensed bar, restaurant, pub, club, hotel, cafe or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol (Premises) located in Victoria on 27 May 2021; and 
• Businesses must hold a general or late night (general), full club, restaurant and cafe, producer’s or on-premises or late night (on-premises) liquor licence as at 27 May 2021; and 
• There must be a food business (which may be a third party or the Applicant) holding a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration that is valid in 2021 under the Food Act 1984 which serves food on the same Premises; and 
• Businesses must be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 27 May 2021; and
• Businesses must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 27 May 2021; and
• Businesses must be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.

For employing businesses only, the applicant must attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Businesses that receive support under the second round of the Business Cost Assistance Program announced on 30 May 2021 will not be eligible for support from this program.

Available Funding

The grant funding to be provided to eligible businesses will be based on the location of the Premises as specified on the liquor licence and the food Certificate of Registration.

The grant amount will be:

• $3,500 per Premises located in regional Victoria;
•  $7,000 per Premises located in metropolitan Melbourne.

An eligible business as defined by its ABN can only receive one grant per Premises.

Where a business operates more than one Premises under its ABN, the business must make a separate application for each individual Premises.

How Can the Funding Be Spent?

Grant funds must be used to assist the business, for example on:

• Meeting business costs, including utilities, wages or rent;
• Seeking financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning; 
• Developing the business through marketing and communications activities; or 
• Any other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

Application process

The Licensee will be invited to submit an application for a grant under this Program using their registered eLicence email contact details for the Licensee holding a liquor licence type eligible under this Program.

The Department will send the application link to the Licensee at the same email as the Licensee’s Liquor Portal eLicence email registered with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. Liquor licensees that do not have an eLicence email can provide this through their Liquor Portal account.

Applications will be accepted until all available Program funds are exhausted or until 11.59pm 24 June 2021, whichever is the earlier.

Only final applications that are lodged with the Department will be accepted and assessed. Applications in draft stage will not be accepted or considered.

Evidence of eligibility

Applicants must certify that they meet all eligibility criteria at the time of application.

Food Certificate for Premises. The application must include a copy of a current Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 (Vic) issued by the Local Council under the Victorian Food Act 1984. The Certificate must be valid for 2021 and specify the same Premises as identified on the Licensee’s liquor licence

Applicants must provide details of a current proof of identity document. This must be one of the following:

• A driver licence or learner permit issued in any Australian jurisdiction; or
• An Australian Passport; or
• A Medicare Card; or
• A foreign passport for those issued with an Australian Visa.

The identity document details provided must be for a person listed on the Australian Business Register as the owner or co-owner of the business or associate or the liquor licensee or authorised contact of the business.

Applicants may be required to provide further information in support of the application at the Department’s discretion.

Compliance

Applications will be subject to a risk assessment which verifies any information provided with ASIC, Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, Australian Business Register, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Local Councils, PrimeSafe Victoria, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs or other applicable public sector agencies or regulators

If any information in the application is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, false or misleading, or grants are not applied for the purposes of the business in accordance with the terms of funding as set out in these Guidelines and any attached application, the grant will be repayable on demand.

Applicants may be subject to audit by the Victorian Government or its representatives and will be required to produce evidence at the request of the Victorian Government for a period of four years after the grant has been approved.

Other information

As part of the assessment process, evidence provided by applicants will be shared and subject to verification with other government agencies (state and federal) including but not limited to, ASIC, Australian Business Register, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, Local Councils, PrimeSafe Victoria, and the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs.

Any of the following circumstances may be taken into consideration in any decision whether to award a grant:

• Any adverse findings by a Government agency or local council regarding a business or its operation;
• A business is, or notice has been given that it will be, placed under external administration;
• There is a petition for bankruptcy or to wind up or deregister a company or business; and
• The business is or becomes deregistered or unregistered (including cancellation or lapse in registration or any relevant permit).

Businesses must ensure that their ABN registration information is current and accurate as at the time of application.

If you wish to discuss more about these support packages, please contact your Johnsons MME advisor.