More support packages for businesses impacted by COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its significant impact on local businesses, community organisations, industry sectors and jobs, the SA Government has introduced a support package for businesses impacted by health restrictions put in place from 27 December 2021. 

A series of new grants will be available to eligible businesses across the state's tourism, hospitality, gym/fitness and major events industries, as well as those in other industries experiencing similar hardship. 

All businesses must be registered for GST to be eligible.

Other standard criteria include that a business is located/operating within South Australia, has a valid and active ABN (Australian Business Number) and has an Australia-wide grouped payroll of less than $10 million in the 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial year.

THE GRANT PROGRAMS

Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant

Businesses with national payrolls of less than $10 million in eligible tourism/hospitality sectors, gyms and other businesses required to operate under the 1 person per 7 square metre density restriction that have already received the COVID-19 Additional Business Support Grant will receive an automatic payment of:

• $3,000 for employing businesses with turnover less than $2 million in 2019-20 or 2020-21
• $10,000 for employing businesses with turnover of greater than $2 million in 2019-20 or 2020-21 (tourism and hospitality sectors only)
• $1,000 for non-employing businesses
• Additional grant for businesses operating in CBD (employing and non-employing): $1,000

The abovementioned automatic payments will be made in the week beginning 4 January 2022.

Businesses that fall outside the hospitality and tourism sector (e.g. gyms) with a turnover exceeding $2 million will have the opportunity to apply for equivalent relief via a separate application process for the Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant – turnover based payment (see eligibility criteria for further information).

Applications for the turnover based payment will be opening shortly through the Department of Treasury and Finance application portal. Applications will close on 31 March 2022.

The eligible ANZSIC codes and eligibility criteria are available to assist in completing your application.

Business Hardship Grant

A COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant has been introduced to provide assistance to those businesses impacted by health restrictions in place from 27 December 2021, but are not eligible for the tourism, hospitality and gym grants (December 2021).

Grants of $6,000 for employing businesses and $2,000 for non-employing businesses will be available for businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover of 50% or more as a result of the COVID-19 health trading restrictions introduced from 27 December 2021.

A further grant of $2,000 will be available for eligible businesses (both employing and non-employing) with a commercial premise in the Adelaide CBD. This recognises the increased number of employees working from home (in line with health advice) and the impact this has on CBD businesses. The Adelaide CBD is defined as a commercial premise located in the 5000 postcode.

To be eligible for a grant, businesses must meet the criteria listed below as at the start of the restriction period of 12:01am Monday 27 December 2021:

• Be located/operating within South Australia.
• Have a valid and active ABN (Australian Business Number) and be registered for the GST.
• Have an Australia-wide grouped payroll of less than $10 million in the 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial year.
• Experienced at least a 50 per cent reduction in turnover due to the restricted trading conditions over the two weeks from 27 December 2021 (the commencement date of the trading restriction) to 9 January 2022 compared to:
  • the comparable 2 weeks in 2019-20 for businesses actively trading in
    2019-20; or
  • the comparable 2 weeks in 2020-21 for businesses not actively trading in 2019-20.

There is no ANZSIC code eligibility for the COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant. Businesses that have received a COVID‑19 Business Support Grant – December 2021 for the tourism, hospitality sector and gyms are not eligible for the COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant.

To be deemed an employing business, the business must employ people in South Australia.

Where multiple non-employing businesses meeting the eligibility criteria are controlled by one individual, company, partnership, or trustee, funding will be restricted to one grant for all non‑employing businesses controlled by the individual, company, partnership, or trustee.

Businesses must be able to provide evidence of this reduction in turnover if requested and retain these records for 2 years from the date the grant was approved.  Applications may be subject to audit.

Applications for the grant will be opening shortly through the Department of Treasury and Finance application portal.  Applications will close on 31 March 2022.

Major Events Support Fund

Standard event: 1,000 to 10,000 attendees

A Major Events Support Grant of up to $25,000 is available for the operators of major one-off events impacted by the health related trading restrictions from 27 December 2021.

To be eligible for the grant a business must:

• Have a valid and active ABN (Australian Business Number) and be registered for the GST.
• Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $10 million in the 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial year.
• Employ people in South Australia.
• Be the organiser/operator of an event scheduled over the period from 27 December 2021 and 27 January 2022, which was required to be cancelled/postponed as a result of the announced health/trading restrictions.
• The event was a one-off event with an approved COVID Management Plan or COVID Safe Plan catering for an event of over 1,000 combined capacity in one or across multiple locations.
  • Entities with an on-going COVID-19 Management/Safe Plan for regularly scheduled events are not eligible.
• Have incurred a non-recoverable financial loss as a result of the cancellation or postponement of the event.

To receive the full $25,000 grant, organisers must have experienced a non-recoverable loss that was greater than $25,000.

An application form will be uploaded shortly. Applications will close on 31 March 2022.

Larger event: more than 10,000 attendees

An increased grant amount of up to $100,000 is available for cancelled or postponed events with greater than 10,000 attendees.

To be eligible for an increased grant amount an organiser must meet the following criteria, in addition to those for the $25,000 Major Events Support Grant:

• Provide evidence that forecast attendance over the period of the event was over 10,000 attendees (eg ticket sales).
• Provide evidence of a non-recoverable financial loss as a result of the cancellation or postponement of the event equivalent to the requested grant amount (e.g. up to $100,000).

Where non-recoverable costs are less than $100,000, the grant is capped at the level of non-recoverable costs.  Where an applicant has already received the $25,000 grant, the top up grant will be adjusted accordingly so total grants do not exceed $100,000.

An application form will be uploaded shortly. Applications will close on 31 March 2022.

There is also additional relief available from Payroll Tax and Liquor Licensing Fees. 

Any queries in relation to the COVID-19 Support Fund or submissions seeking Government assistance from the COVID-19 Support Fund can be lodged via email to [email protected]