Businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in the Australian Capital Territory will receive more financial support after the jurisdiction's lockdown was extended yesterday by two weeks to 2 September.
Business Support Grants will now deliver up to $10,000 for employing businesses and $4,000 for non-employing businesses over the three-week lockdown period if turnover has declined by 30 per cent or more as a result of the restrictions.
This is up from $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses as announced last week by the ACT government.
To receive the grants businesses must be registered in the ACT and able to demonstrate their primary operation in the ACT, have an annual turnover of more than $75,000, be registered for GST and have a total payroll of less than $10 million. They will also need to provide evidence of a 30 per cent reduction in their turnover.
The package will be split on a 50/50 basis between the Commonwealth and the ACT Governments, with the Territory government to administer the program.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the extended package would help keep people in jobs.
"We know that extended lockdowns are particularly hard for businesses, especially those who have been experiencing a downturn in trade for some months due to restrictions interstate," the Chief Minister said.
"The ACT Government will continue to work constructively with the Commonwealth Government to support businesses and keep people in jobs."
It comes as the ACT reported 17 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases in the Territory connected to the latest outbreak to 45.
Interstate, New South Wales reported 452 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections and Victoria reported 24 new cases. Queensland reported one locally acquired case - a person who was already in home quarantine.
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory reported no new COVID-19 cases today after the Territory Government sent Darwin and Katherine into a snap lockdown yesterday.
Updated at 2.33pm AEST on 17 August 2021.
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