Friday, 3 April 2020
SMALL businesses struggling to keep their doors open due to social distancing restrictions have today been thrown a lifeline by the State Government, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall welcoming the announcement operators will receive a $10,000 grant to help with fixed costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Marshall said the $750 million announcement was the largest support package for small business in the State’s history.
“Whether you run a café or restaurant, gym or are a small accommodation provider, the State-Government has today committed to having your back, now and until this health crisis ends,” Mr Marshall said.
“To be eligible, businesses will need to have between 1 and 19 employees, a turnover of more than $75,000, and a payroll below the NSW Government 2019-20 payroll tax threshold of $900,000.
“The funds must be used for unavoidable business costs such as utilities, overheads, legal costs and financial advice. Service NSW will administer the scheme, which will open within a fortnight and operate until June 1.
“Depending on how long this goes for, today’s announcement could one of the key measures which stops businesses going to the wall. It offers a reprieve to those businesses which until now have battled because they were not able to access existing payroll tax waivers.”
Mr Marshall said governments at all levels had announced considerable stimulus packages to help get the economy through COVID-19 and urged business operators to contact Service NSW to see what they are eligible for.
“After years of drought, months of bushfires and now the uncertainty of COVID-19, there is now doubt there will be many tough days ahead for our business community,” he said.
“To help ease the burden, Service NSW has hired 1,000 new staff to man phones and provide business operators and families with information around the finical assistance which is available, both at a State and Federal level.
“It doesn’t matter if you are someone out of work which is looking to apply for JobSeeker payments or a business which wants to access payroll tax waivers, Service NSW is the friendly voice which will help guide you through during this difficult time.”
Service NSW’s phone service 13 77 88 now operating 24/7.
The latest information can also be found on the Service NSW website https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/