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Dear valued clients and friends of Yield.

We hope that you and your family are well.

This email is to inform you of the latest State and Federal Government initiatives aimed at supporting businesses and individuals that have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

Please review the following assistance packages and contact us if you believe you may be eligible for support and/or require further clarification or assistance in making a claim. Note however that claims need to be made online by the claimant to the relevant Government Department and cannot be made through the tax system as was the case with Jobkeeper.

Level 2 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package

The WA state government has recently announced a new COVID-19 Business Assistance Package for Western Australian businesses who have experienced a 50 per cent decrease in business for any two week period since 1 January 2022.

It is comprised of two elements, the Small Business Hardship Grant and the Payroll Tax Waiver. The latter is only applicable for businesses with an annual payroll of between $4 million and $20 million.

To be eligible for the Small Business Hardship Grants, businesses must:

• Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
• Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000, excluding GST.
• Be able to demonstrate a 50 per cent reduction in revenue for any two-week consecutive period between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021. An alternative period in 2021 may be used if the business did not operate at that time or it provides an inaccurate representation of the business’ financial situation.

Eligible applicants will receive a tiered grant payment, dependant on the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees of the business. For the purpose of this calculation, the business owner is excluded from the FTE calculation. The following grant tiers are available:

• Non-employing businesses (business owner – no additional employees) – $3,000
• Micro businesses (business owner, plus one to five employees) – $7,500
• Small Businesses (business owner, plus six to 19 employees) – $20,000
• Medium Businesses (business owner, plus 20 or more employees) – $50,000

This program is open to all eligible businesses that meet the criteria. Applications close at 4pm AWST on Thursday 30 June 2022.

Details can be found here: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus/grants

There also continue to be various existing state and federal programs to provide assistance for businesses affected by COVID-19. A summary of these is as follows:

Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package

This package contains the following assistance measures:

Small Business Rental Relief Package

• Tenant Rent Relief Scheme
• Landlord Rent Relief Scheme
• Tenant Rental Credit Scheme (Government tenants)

Details can be found here: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus/grants

Outdoor dining and entertainment support package

• Alfresco support package
• Waiver of Liquor Licensing fees
• Nightclub Assistance Program
• Independent Performing Arts, Theatres and Cinemas Assistance Program

Details can be found here: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus/grants

Small Business Assistance Grant

The Small Business Assistance Grant – December 2021 is available to small businesses operating within the hospitality sector, the music events industry or the creative and performing arts sector that were directly financially impacted by the WA Chief Health Officer’s COVID Restrictions (Directions) from 23 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.

Applications close at 4pm AWST on Thursday 31 March 2022.

Details can be found here: https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/assistance-grant

Safe Transition Industry Support Package

This program supports businesses in sectors most affected by the decision to delay the full reopening of WA’s borders. The sectors targeted are International Education, Tourism and Events, the latter two of which may be more relevant to local businesses:

Tourism

Tourism operators can access either the Tourism Deposit Refund Program or the Tourism Support Program.

Details can be found here: https://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/industry-support-and-events/resources-for-businesses-and-operators/Coronavirus/Pages/WA-Tourism-Funding-Programs.aspx#/

Events

Event organisers can access of the Getting the Show Back on the Road program (extended and modified to the 30 June 2022) and the Event Suppliers Support Program.

Details can be found here: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/getting-the-show-back-on-the-road

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

Administered at a Federal level, the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is intended to provide support to individual workers who cannot earn an income because they or someone they care for has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19.

You may have to self-isolate or quarantine for one of the following reasons:

• you have coronavirus (COVID-19)
• you’re a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
• a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
• you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19
• you’re caring for someone with disability or a severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine because they’re a close contact of a person with COVID-19.

You’re defined as a close contact if you either:

• usually live with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19
• have stayed in the same household for more than 4 hours with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19 during their infectious period (An infectious period is up to 14 days before a person experiences symptoms of COVID-19).

You must also meet both of the following requirements to be eligible:

• you’ve lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work
• you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for (Liquid assets are defined as any funds readily available to you in cash or savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash).

How much you get depends on the hours of work you have lost. For each seven-day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, you can receive:

• $450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
• $750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work.

If you lost less than 8 hours or a full day’s work during the 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, you won’t be eligible for this payment. A full day’s work is the hours you were scheduled to work or would usually work on a given day. This includes not being able to attend a full time, part time or casual shift of less than 8 hours.

Full details can be found at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment