As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve on a daily basis, all three levels of government are offering a variety of stimulus and relief initiatives to support impacted businesses and community organisations.
In order to continue to assist our community in whatever capacity we can, Netball Queensland has compiled a list of all packages available to not for profit organisations and small to medium sized businesses.
I would strongly encourage our Clubs and Associations as well as all of our netball families, to carefully review the information below. Where eligible, please take the opportunity to apply for the packages relevant to you in order to take full advantage of the Government’s support in these challenging times.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 situation it is likely there will be updates to the existing stimulus and relief packages, or further measures announced. Netball Queensland will therefore continue to keep our community informed as new information is released.
Please note that many of these assistance packages are relevant for Associations and Clubs that employ staff.
Please do not hesitate to contact your Delivery Network Leads if you have any further questions.
Yours in netball,
Catherine Clark
Netball Queensland CEO
#NetballUnited
Federal Government assistance
- ‘JobKeeper’ payment - Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses impacted by the Coronavirus will be able to access a wage subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. Affected employers will be able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020, for a maximum of 6 months. Full time and part time employees, including stood down employees, would be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. Where a casual employee has been with their employer for at least the previous 12 months they will also be eligible for the Payment. For more information about the
JobKeeper payment, employees can click here and employers can click here. To register your business visit https://www.ato.gov.au/general/gen/JobKeeper-payment/.
- Boosting Cash Flow for Employers - The Government is providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium-sized businesses, and not for-profits (NFPs) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. These payments will help businesses and NFPs with their cash flow so they can keep operating, pay their rent, electricity and other bills and retain staff. Small and medium-sized business entities with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers are eligible. NFPs, including charities, with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers will now also be eligible.
For further information on this initiative click here.
- Increasing the instant asset write-off - The Government is increasing the instant asset write-off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expanding access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. In 2017-18 there were more than 360,000 businesses that benefited from the current instant asset write-off, claiming deductions to the value of over $4 billion. This measure will support over 3.5 million businesses (over 99 per cent of businesses).
Click here for more information on this package.
- Support for Individuals and Households - The Australian Government is providing financial assistance to Australians to support them through the Coronavirus. This assistance includes income support payments, payments to support households and temporary early releases of superannuation.
For more information about the assistance available, visit https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/households.
State Government assistance
- $950 million payroll tax relief - Immediate payroll tax refunds will be provided for COVID-19 affected businesses. Eligible businesses can also apply for deferral until the end of 2020 and a payroll tax holiday for 3 months. All small and medium businesses (annual payrolls of $6.5 million or less) in Queensland will be eligible for:
- A two-month refund of payroll tax. giving an average of nearly $9,000 cash;
- A three-month payroll tax holiday, saving an average of $13,360 and;
- Deferral of all payroll tax payments for the rest of 2020.
- $100 million electricity bill relief for small and medium businesses - Sole traders, small and medium businesses will get a $500 rebate on their power bill. Any business consuming less than 100,000 kilowatt hours will receive the rebate, which will be automatically applied on business electricity bills.
- $500 million COVID-19 jobs support loans - A loan facility of at least $500 million, interest free for the first 12 months, is being created to support Queensland businesses impacted by COVID-19 to retain employees and maintain operations. The concessional loan facility comprises low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff.
- FairPlay vouchers - The State Government has provided an update on the status of ROund 2 FairPlay Vouchers. For more information, visit https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/news-publications/news/covid-19-sport-and-recreation-funding-programs
For more information about these and other available State Government assistance packages, visit www.business.qld.gov.au.
The State Government has also launched a dedicated website with the latest news and advice. The new website – www.covid19.qld.gov.au – is a one-stop shop for Queenslanders looking for up-to-date information about the COVID19 health emergency.
Local Government assistance
Local Council’s and Shires across the State are offering a variety of assistance and relief initiatives including the waiving of rent, fees and levies. Please contact your local council or visit their website for the relevant support available in your region.
