Coronavirus Alert: QLD Lockdown – Financial support for individuals and businesses announced

The Federal and Queensland Governments have announced financial support for individuals and businesses affected by the latest Queensland COVID-19 lockdown.

For Individuals: COVID-19 Disaster Payment

The Federal Government has confirmed that individuals in Queensland will be eligible to receive COVID-19 disaster payments if all eligibility requirements are met.

Eligible individuals could receive:

• $750 per week if they lose 20 hours or more of work due to the latest lockdown; or
• $450 per week if they lose between 8 and 20 hours of work due to the latest lockdown.

For additional information on eligibility requirements and how to make a claim for a COVID-19 Disaster Payment, individuals should consider the information published by Services Australia.

For Businesses: Queensland’s 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants

Grants of $5,000 (excluding GST) will be made available to eligible small to medium businesses impacted by the latest lockdown that commenced on 31 July 2021.

Small and medium businesses are businesses with turnover over $75,000 per annum with annual payroll in Queensland not exceeding $10 million.

The grant funds may be used by small to medium businesses for business expenses.

Small to medium businesses, including those not located in South East Queensland, may be eligible to access COVID-19 Business Support Grants provided the business has experienced a minimum 30% reduction in turnover due to the latest lockdown.

Financial support can also be accessed by large businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors provided eligibility criteria is met. One eligibility requirement is that large businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors must be trading within any of the 11 local government areas¹ affected by the latest lockdown. Additional information in respect of eligibility requirements is yet to be released.

Online applications for COVID-19 Business Support Grants are due to open in mid-August with the Queensland Government anticipating that businesses will be paid grant funds within 2 weeks of an application being approved.

It is expected that additional information in relation to application requirements and how to apply for these grants will be published by the Queensland Government shortly.

¹ As at 31 July 2021, the 11 local government areas affected by lockdown are Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Author: Emma Kime (Associate)