Perth and Peel small businesses impacted by the ANZAC Day weekend lockdown will soon be able to apply for $2,000 grants to assist with some of the costs incurred as a direct result of the three-day lockdown and subsequent restrictions.
The Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grants program, estimated to cost $31.8 million, will provide targeted support to small businesses to cover some direct costs and lost bookings due to cancellations and closures.
The program will support a wide range of businesses impacted by the lockdown, estimated to be around 15,000 - including hospitality, catering and staging, fitness, hair and beauty, and creative and performing arts, among others.
The one-off targeted program will provide assistance to eligible businesses with an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million and registered for GST purposes.
Businesses must be able to demonstrate losses incurred for perishable goods, cancellations or other unforeseen costs as a result of the lockdown.
The program will be jointly managed by the Small Business Development Corporation and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
A register of interest is now open at https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au with eligible businesses able to lodge an application later this month, and grants to be distributed in June and July.
The grants add to the more than $1.2 billion of assistance the McGowan Government has provided to Western Australian businesses - which has included electricity bill relief, payroll tax and business licence fee waivers, grants and other industry specific measures.
Sectors eligible to apply for Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grants include:
- Cafés and restaurants
- Bars, pubs, taverns and nightclubs
- Accommodation and sightseeing
- Health and fitness centres and gyms
- Hairdressing and beauty services
- Florists
- Cinemas
- Bakeries and catering services
- Clubs (hospitality)
- Specialised food retail
- Food wholesalers
- Creative industries and performing arts venues
- Event equipment hire
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"We moved quickly to establish this direct, targeted grants program, which will provide some relief for the Perth and Peel small businesses most impacted by the ANZAC Day weekend lockdown - which was necessary to stop the spread of COVID.
"This is a significant program with the capacity to support an estimated 15,000 small businesses in Perth and Peel - including Rottnest Island - to recoup some direct costs they have incurred already.
"I want to thank and acknowledge the small business sector for their continued understanding as we work to keep the community safe and maintain Western Australia's world-leading economic response to COVID-19."
As stated by Small Business Minister Reece Whitby:
"The most important thing we can do for our small businesses and the wider economy is crush the virus at the outset and avoid any long-term lockdowns and restrictions, which would potentially cost the State billions.
"This program will provide financial support to offset some of the costs businesses incurred as a result of the lockdown - including the loss of perishable goods, cancelled bookings, and other unavoidable costs on those forced to remain closed.
"I encourage eligible businesses to begin preparing evidence of any losses in anticipation of applications opening later this month."
