As Australia begins to look out from behind the COVID curtain, we look at how financial support will roll back as states and territories reach vaccination targets.
For individuals
The COVID-19 Disaster payment offered a lifeline to those who lost work because of lockdowns, particularly in the ACT, New South Wales, and Victoria, where the Delta strain of the virus and long-term lockdowns had the most significant impact.
In late September, the Treasurer announced the Disaster Payment would roll back as states and territories reach vaccination hurdles on the National Plan. To date, more than $9 billion worth of Disaster Payments have been paid out, and at 70% and 80% full adult vaccination, the disaster, apparently, is over.
At 70% full vaccination in your state or territory
In the week a state or territory reaches 70% full adult vaccination, the automatic renewal that has been in place will end, and individuals will need to reapply each week a Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place to confirm their eligibility. The COVID-19 Disaster payment will not necessarily finish. However, anyone currently receiving the payment will need to reconfirm that they meet the eligibility criteria, including living or working in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
Given that the time gap between 70% and 80% full vaccination might be as little as two weeks in some regions, the impact of the 70% restrictions might be a moot point.
At 80% full vaccination in your state or territory
In the first week a state or territory reaches 80% full adult vaccination, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will phase out over two weeks before ending altogether.
| Trigger | Disaster payment per week |
| <70% vaccination* | $750 – lost 20 hours or more for that week$450 – lost at least 8 hours of work$200 – on income support and have lost at least 8 hours of work |
| 70% vaccination* | Automatic renewal ends |
| 80% vaccination | Payment reduced from the first week |
| Week 1 | $450 – lost at least 8 hours of work$100 – for those on income support who have lost at least 8 hours of work |
| Week 2 | $320 – lost at least 8 hours of work |
* First week population +16 years of age reaches vaccination target
Those needing financial support will no longer be eligible for the disaster payment, regardless of whether a Commonwealth hotspot is in place, and instead will need to apply for another form of income support such as JobSeeker. Unlike the disaster payments, JobSeeker and most other income support payments are subject to income and assets tests.
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment was created for those who cannot work because they need to self-isolate, care or quarantine, or care for someone with COVID-19. This payment will remain in place until 30 June 2022.
Support for business
Each state and territory manages lockdown and financial support to businesses impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures differently. How support has been provided and the extent of Commonwealth support, will determine how it is withdrawn.
Australian Capital Territory
With joint funding from the Commonwealth, the ACT Government has distributed grants to businesses. The ACT COVID-19 Business Grant was recently extended with top-up grants of $10,000 for employing businesses and $3,750 to non-employing firms distributed to previous grant recipients in industries impacted by continued lockdowns. Large businesses $2m to $5m received an additional top-up amount of between $10,000 and $30,000. The Tourism, Accommodation Provider, Arts, Events, Hospitality & Fitness Grants have also been topped up with grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to existing recipients. The grant has been expanded to the fitness/sports sector (more information will be available mid-October).
Lockdowns eased on 1 October and are scheduled to be lifted from 15 October, with a return to normal in early to mid-December 2021 (see the pathway forward). While not specified, it is expected that grants will cease at this point and instead be directed into targeted industry-specific initiatives (see the recovery plan).
New South Wales
The NSW JobSaver, which provides payments of up to 40% of weekly payroll, is jointly funded by the state and Commonwealth governments. From 13 September, businesses receiving JobSaver have been required to reconfirm their eligibility for the payment each fortnight, including a 30% decline in turnover test and headcount test.
| JobSaver* | Weekly payroll | Min | Max | Non-employing business |
| Current | 40% | $1,500 | $100,000 | $1,000 |
| 10 October | 30% | $1,125 | $75,000 | $750 |
| 80% full vaccination | 15% | $562.50 | $37,500 | $375 |
| 30 November | 0% | $0 |
*excludes extension program
At 70% full adult vaccination (10 October 2021), JobSaver will reduce from 40% of weekly payroll to 30%. Then, at 80% full vaccination, the Commonwealth will withdraw funding. The NSW Government announced that it will continue to fund its portion of JobSaver up until 30 November 2021 (15% of payroll).
It is unclear at this stage what the withdrawal of Commonwealth funding at 80% vaccination rates will mean for large tourism, hospitality, and recreation businesses.
The $1,500 fortnightly micro-business grant, will reduce to $750 per fortnight from 80% full vaccination and cease on 30 November 2021.
If you are uncertain how the easing of restrictions will impact you and your workplace, see the roadmap.
Queensland
While not significantly impacted by local lockdowns, Queensland tourism is affected by national and international border closures. The second round of Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship grants have been announced, although no further details are currently available.
For businesses on the border with New South Wales, a hardship grant will become available if the closure remains in place until 14 October or longer with grants of $5,000 for employing entities and $1,000 for non-employing entities (see Business Queensland for details). To receive the grant, you must operate in a ‘border business zone’ and have received the COVID-19 Business Support Grant.
Pointedly, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has stated, “Governments must also hold up their end of the bargain and stick to the plan agreed at National Cabinet that will see restrictions ease and our borders open up as we reach our vaccination targets of 70 to 80 per cent.” The Queensland Government will be under significant pressure to open borders once vaccination rates reach 80% in December and before the school holiday period.
Victoria
The Victorian Government, with joint funding from the Commonwealth, has distributed grants to businesses. For many of these grants, funding has been topped up in line with lockdown extensions.
The small business hardship fund providing one-off grants of $20,000 for businesses that have suffered a 70% or more decline in turnover and were not eligible for other grants or funding, will reopen (see the BusinessVictoria website for details).
The Business Costs Assistance Program will provide automatic top-ups to existing recipients across October and into the first half of November (two fortnightly payments between 1-29 October on a rising scale). Businesses that remain closed or severely restricted between 70% and 80% double dose will receive an automatic payment for the period from 29 October to 13 November.
Licensed hospitality venue fund recipients will also receive weekly top-ups in October of between $5,000 and $20,000, stepped according to venue capacity. Between 70% and 80% double dose, payments for licensed premises in metropolitan Melbourne will be reduced by 25%, and in regional Victoria by 50%.
Victoria is not expected to reach the 70% vaccination target until the end of October, and 80% in early to mid-November. You can find Victoria’s broad road map here.
National
The National Plan stipulates state and territory borders are to reopen at 80% double vaccination in that state or territory, but this will depend on health advice at the time.
Generally, international borders will reopen in states and territories at 80% double vaccination with Australian and permanent residents able to quarantine at home for seven days. Unvaccinated travellers will need to stay in hotel quarantine for 14 days. Commercial flights will also resume for vaccinated Australians, with Australia expected to implement a ‘red light, green light’ system similar to the UK to designate safe countries.
For other regions such as South Australia and the Northern Territory, borders are expected to reopen at 80% double vaccination but with some nuances flagged. However, the Western Australian Government has stated it will announce an easing of border restrictions once those over 12 years of age have achieved 80% double vaccination.
SME lending options
While there is likely to be an economic rebound when restrictions ease across the country, for many, a funding gap will remain between the assistance provided by Government grants and viable trading conditions.
The expanded SME recovery loan scheme took effect on 1 October 2021. Under the scheme, the Government will guarantee 80% of loan amounts to businesses that COVID-19 has adversely impacted.
The lending terms, repayment, and interest rates are set by the lenders but cannot be backed by residential property. That is, if the Government is underwriting the loan, lenders cannot ask business owners to use their home as security. However, Directors’ guarantees are likely to be required.
Under the scheme, lenders can provide:
- A repayment holiday of up to 24 months
- Loans of up to $5m
- Loan terms of up to 10 years, and
- Secured and unsecured loans
The recovery loans can be used to refinance existing loans, purchase commercial property, purchase another business, or working capital. But, cannot be used to purchase residential property, financial products, lend to associated entities, or lease, rent, hire or hire purchase existing assets that are more than halfway into their effective life.
The loan scheme is generally available to solvent businesses with a turnover of up to $250m, have an ABN, and a tax resident of Australia. Loans remain subject to lending conditions and generally the lenders will look to lend to viable businesses where it is clear that they can trade their way out of the impact of COVID-19 or the assets of the business make the break-up value attractive.
If you default on your loan, you cannot simply walk away from it. The Government is guaranteeing 80% of the lender’s risk, not your debt. Director guarantees are still likely to be required, and for many loans, it will be secured against a business asset. On the plus side, current interest rates are desirable, and many lenders provide a repayment holiday of up to 24 months, and in some cases, existing debt can be bundled into loan arrangements.
Julian