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COVID-19 Support for business

Businesses can call for assistance to filter through government packages available. Council staff are available during business hours Monday to Friday.

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS HELP LINE - CALL 1300 79 49 29

Government support for business

  • Visit the Australian Government business website for information and support.

    Australian Government's Business hotline - 13 28 46

    Australian Taxation Office hotline - 1800 806 218

    Support currently available to business includes:

    Austrade Events – the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) organises and supports a wide range of events and webinars that are held in Australia and around the world.

    Austrade – access a wide range of information and resources for exporters.

    Backing business investment - Eligible businesses, for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 income years, may be able to deduct the cost of new depreciating assets at an accelerated rate using the backing business investment – accelerated depreciation rules.

    Boosting apprenticeship commencements - To assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19, the Australian Government is providing support to all eligible employers who engage a new Australian Apprentice.

    Boosting cash flow for employers - Eligible businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations who employ staff will receive between $20,000 to $100,000 in cash flow boost amounts by lodging their activity statements up to the month or quarter of September 2020.

    Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme – Support of up to $40 billion of lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by guaranteeing 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders to SMEs.

    Commercial tenancies:  Disputes.  The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman offers tips for resolving your own dispute.  If agreement cannot be reached, either party can contact the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman for more support.

    Continuing your business – learn about the positive steps you can take to keep your business operating and where to go for help.

    COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund – Support for regions, communities and industry sectors that have been affected by COVID-19.

    Cyber Security Assessment Tool – Is your business cyber secure? Use this tool to check how cyber secure your business is and what you can do to make it more cyber secure.

    Events and Training – Search tool. Business workshops, networking events, conferences and webinars can help you to improve your business skills and grow your network.

    Expertise and Advice – Search tool. Chat to a business adviser or expert online, over the phone or face-to-face — some mobile advisers can even visit your business. Select the topic/s you wish to get advice on.

    Export Finance Australia – assistance may be available if your business has been affected by COVID-19, or if you simply need a cashflow boost.

    Grants & programs – Search tool. Find grants, funding and support programs from across government to help your business grow and succeed! When searching for funding, keep in mind that you’ll generally need to meet certain criteria to be eligible, and that aside from funding assistance, many programs can help your business by building your skills and knowledge.

    Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses – Eligible businesses can claim an immediate deduction for the business portion of the cost of an asset in the year the asset is first used or installed ready for use.

    International Freight Assistance Mechanism – establishment of an international freight assistance mechanism to back Australia’s agriculture and seafood export sectors.

    JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme – An incentive for businesses to employ additional young job seekers aged 16 – 35 years.

    moneysmart.gov.au – Making financial decisions guide.

    Running your business from home – find out the tools and resources available to help you run your business from home.

    Simplified debt restructuring – The Government has made changes to Australia’s insolvency framework to better help small businesses, their creditors and their employees.

    SME Recovery Loan Scheme – The Government is working with lenders to provide businesses with access to finance to maintain and grow their businesses when JobKeeper ends.

    Trade Mark COVID-19 Helpline - IP Australia have introduced their Trade Mark COVID-19 Helpline to help support and assist businesses who have explored different goods and services to those currently covered under their registered trade marks.

    Download the official government “Coronavirus Australia” app. in the Apple App Store or Google Play, or join the WhatsApp channel on iOS or Android

  • Visit Business Queensland for business support.

    Queensland Government Small Business HOTLINE – 1300 654 687

    Financial assistance

    2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants for lockdown-impacted businesses in Queensland - Your business may be eligible for financial support through the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants. $5,000 grants will be made available to small and medium businesses across Queensland affected by the COVID-19 lockdown that commenced on Saturday 31 July 2021 and lockdowns in other states. Applications for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants will open in mid-August.

    Australian Government business assistance – support and assistance for Australian businesses impacted by coronavirus.

    Back to Work Employer Support and Youth Boost – this program is designed to give businesses the confidence to employ Queenslanders who have experienced a period of unemployment. Support payments of up to $20,000 are available for eligible employers who hire eligible unemployed jobseekers.

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) support for commercial tenants - If your business has been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), support is available to help you manage your commercial lease and rental obligations.

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) support for commercial landlords - If you own a commercial property and your tenant is a small to medium sized business affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), support is available to help you manage your leasing arrangements with them.

    Electricity relief for businesses - $500 rebate if your business consumes less than 100,000kWh, automatically applied on your electricity bills.

    Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program – Round 2 opened 01 July. The available grant amount is a minimum of $2,000 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business for a range of recovery activities.

    Industry support

    Business support and advice

    Business Assistance Finder – use the coronavirus (COVID-19) business assistance finder to learn what support you may be eligible for.

    Business health check – Is your business strong enough to deal with disruptions and emergencies? Use this tool to identify changes you can make to help your business survive and thrive.

    Cyber security for your business – advice and assistance to help protect your business from online threats, scams, attacks, phishing emails and phone calls.

    Employee rights, awards and entitlements – information about employer obligations and employee rights in Queensland businesses.

    Finances and cash flow - Learn about managing cash flow and understanding how to use cash flow analysis to make business decisions.

    Financial workshops – financial management and business planning workshops delivered by TAFE Queensland.

    Guide to continuing your business – This guide provides positive steps you can take now to help keep your business operating.

    Managing flexible working arrangements – employer obligations for staff working from home.

    Mentoring assistance – mentors available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning.

    Pandemic risk management for business – manage the business risks associated with a pandemic.

    Risk management and planning – business continuity planning, developing recovery plans, and cyber security.

    Supporting small business assistance form – request assistance via the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training who will prioritise enquiries and access support from state agencies ready to lend a hand.

    Tourism business health check - Understand and improve the resilience of your business so you are ready for anything—from loss of key staff to a pandemic or natural disaster.

  • Fraser Coast Regional Council adopted the 2020/21 Budget at a Special Meeting held on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

    To assist in the recovery stage of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a number of initiatives were developed to provide support to ratepayers and the business community that have been affected by the virus either directly or indirectly. To date these initiatives have included rate concessions, rent relief for commercial tenants of Council owned properties, waivers of some business licencing fees and compliance support for businesses. Additionally, Council has introduced the Buy Local Fraser Coast Gift Card initiative and worked with the Queensland Government to secure direct Jetstar flights to and from Sydney.

    A further $500,000 Fraser Coast Regional Council COVID-19 Economic Stimulus package was released to support Fraser Coast businesses to grow our local economy, keep people employed and create new jobs. Initiatives include:

    Business Shopfront Revitalisation Grant, $200,000: Provide grant of up to $5,000 for improvements to shopfronts. The aim is to stimulate interest in existing businesses to increase customer visits and sales. The region benefits from improved aesthetics and confidence in business areas. APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

    Business Advice Grants, $100,000: Help Fraser Coast businesses to engage the local professional business services providers to improve their capacity and capability across a range of areas including financial management, inventory management, HR management, marketing and digital solutions. APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

    Business Face-to-Face Surveys, $50,000:  Surveys to receive direct feedback from local businesses regarding their needs and priorities, for future planning.

    Business Summit, $50,000: An event open to all businesses with a high-powered speaker to stimulate ideas, sharing business knowledge and generating new ideas.

    Business Expo, $50,000: A business expo to provide opportunities for local businesses and business support organisations to showcase product and services. The region benefits from businesses understanding the capability that exists locally and creates stronger local supply chains and networks.

    Event Showcase, $50,000: Bring event organisers to the region to familiarise them with the facilities and businesses. The aim is to position the Fraser Coast as a location for events, expos and conferences as well as a business and tourist destination.

    Council’s Economic Development team is here to support businesses during this challenging period, and beyond. Contact our team for further information and support via email economic.development@frasercoast.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 79 49 29 and ask for the Economic Development team.

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    Check In Qld app - The Check In Qld app is available to download and use across a number of businesses to help keep Queenslanders COVID Safe.

    IMPORTANT:  In addition to the hospitality sector, from 9 July 2021 the Check In Qld app will be mandatory for a number of new sectors, including shopping centres and supermarkets, beauty and personal care services and venues that attract large crowds.

    COVID Safe Checklist for Restricted Businesses - COVID Safe Industry Plans and industry specific checklists have now been replaced by the COVID Safe Checklist for Restricted Businesses. Revoked COVID Safe Industry Plans and Checklists are still available for businesses to refer to, should they wish to implement some, or all, of the measures contained within however they are no longer mandatory.

    Roadmap to easing restrictions - Latest information for businesses.

    View the Queensland Government's roadmap to easing restrictions.

    COVID Safe Businesses – Queensland government portal for information and links to checklists, plans and factsheets.

    COVID Safe promotional resources - all the resources needed to promote a COVIDSafe environment. Both pre-made and customisable materials have been made available including posters, decals and social media collateral.  

    Business health and safety resources for coronavirus (COVID-19) - a wide range of workplace health and safety resources, posters, and fact sheets have been developed to help you stay informed and manage your business during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    Workplace health and safety – workplace risk management to keep your workplace safe.

    Safe Work Australia industry guidelines - guidelines and information so that businesses can work in a COVID safe environment.

    Download the new COVIDSafe app - speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps health officials support and protect you, your friends and family. The app is now available from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Media releases and news

Tools for recovery

Industry resources