Australian Government coronavirus information and support for business

Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses at this website. Information includes:

• Relief for commercial tenants: the Government has announced a range of measures to help renters, including a mandatory code of conduct for commercial tenancies.

• JobKeeper Payment for employers and employees: businesses impacted by COVID-19 will be able to access a subsidy to continue paying their employees. Affected employers will be able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee.

• JobKeeper Payment for sole traders and other entities: sole traders and self-employed people may be eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment if their turnover has reduced. The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee.

• Boosting cash flow for employers: payments to provide cash flow support to businesses and not-for-profit entities that employ staff.

• Supporting apprentices and trainees: if you employ an apprentice or trainee you may be eligible for a wage subsidy of 50% of their wage.

• Increased and accelerated income support: learn about income support payments and the new time limited Coronavirus Supplement.

• Early access to superannuation.

• Supporting the flow of credit: learn about actions to support the flow of credit in the Australian economy, including for small and medium businesses.

• Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses: learn about changes to bankruptcy law as part of the government's economic response.

• Increasing the instant asset write-off: learn how the threshold has been increased and expanded to include more businesses.

• Increased and accelerated income support: learn about income support payments and the new time limited Coronavirus Supplement.

• Backing Business Investment (BBI): read about support for business investment and economic growth by accelerating depreciation deductions.

• International Freight Assistant Mechanism: find out about freight assistance for Australian agriculture and seafood exporters.

• Support for existing government program participants and applicants: existing government program grantees may be eligible for extra time to meet their project obligations.

Australian Taxation Office - support for businesses and employers

Visit this website to find out how the ATO is supporting businesses. Information includes:

• JobKeeper payments

• Boosting cash flow for employers: tax-free cash flow boosts of between $20,000 and $100,000 to eligible businesses, delivered through credits in the activity statement system, when eligible businesses lodge their statements.

• Increasing the instant asset write-off: changes to thresholds and eligibility

• Backing business investment: businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $500 million are able to accelerate their depreciation deductions on the purchase of certain new depreciable assets.

• Additional support during COVID-19, including:

- Who to contact

- Lodgement or payment

- Vary your PAYG instalments

- Change your GST reporting cycle

- Defer GST payments for importers

- Offshore providers of low-value goods, services and digital products

- Statement of tax record

• COVID-19 employers FAQs for:

- Not-for-profit employers and salary packaging

- FBT and working from home

- FBT on accommodation, food and transport

- FBT on benefits to protect employees from COVID-19

- FBT and emergency health care

- FBT and providing the flu vaccination to employees who are working from home

- FBT and providing testing for COVID-19 to employees

- Super guarantee obligations

- Payments and reporting

- Interest and penalties

- Cancelled supplies and events

- International business

- Pausing or ceasing your business

NSW Government financial assistance for business and employers

Visit this website regarding NSW Government help available to businesses, including:

• Grants and loans, including $10,000 small business grants, which can be applied for here.

• New $3,000 grants for small business: the grants can be used to cover marketing and advertising expenses, make fit-out changes and train staff in how to work safely under the current COVID-10 health conditions. Applications will be open from 1 July until 16 August 2020.

• Business support updates.

• Taxes, fees, leases and operating hours, including:

- Fee and licence relief

- Tax assistance, including payroll tax, gaming and watering tax deferral, parking space levy deferral, instant asset write offs, depreciation deductions

- Commercial tenancies, including commercial lease assistance, rent relief agreements, request a commercial tenancy rent reduction, negotiate a new commercial tenancy, NSW Government land tax support package

- Opening hours changes

- Financially distressed businesses

NSW Government call for local manufacturing of medical supplies

The NSW Government is calling on local manufacturers to help supply medical equipment and hygiene products to our essential services workers. Critical supplies in demand:

• Hand sanitiser

• Examination gloves

• Disinfection and cleaning products

• Handwash and soap

• Masks

• Eyewear

• Gowns

• Paper products

Go to the website to register your interest. Registration is instant and free.

Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships were first launched in 2014 to assist apprentices who have experienced hardship in their life to successfully complete their apprenticeship.

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships assist apprentices in NSW who have demonstrated:

• hardship in their personal circumstances

• aptitude for vocational education and training to lead to successful completion of their trade training

• a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in off-the-job training

Scholarships are open to NSW registered apprentices in both metropolitan and country areas, including school based apprentices.

Applications close on Friday 3 July 2020 - visit the website for information on eligibility and how to apply.