2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants for lockdown-impacted businesses in Queensland

The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants program supports eligible employing Queensland small and medium businesses and employing Queensland not for profit organisations, that are impacted by lock downs taking effect during August 2021 in response to COVID-19 outbreaks. This includes the South-East Queensland lock down that commenced on 31 July 2021 and the Cairns and Yarrabah lock down that commenced on 8 August 2021 and any other lock downs that may occur in the month of August 2021.

How much can you apply for?

Business Type

Payroll Size

Available Funding

Employing Queensland small businesses and not-for-profit organisations

Less than $1.3 million

$10,000

Employing Queensland medium sized businesses and not-for-profit organisations

Between $1.3 million and $10 million

$15,000

Employing Queensland large sized tourism and hospital focused business and not-for-profit organisations

More than $10 million

$30,000

Non-employing sole traders based in Queensland

n/a

$1,000

Is your business eligible?

Small and medium businesses and not for profit organisations

To be eligible, you must:

  • employ staff (employees must be on your payroll and does not include any business owners)
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN) for the business or not for profit organisation continuously held since 30 June 2021
  • be registered for GST
  • have a Queensland headquarters
  • not be insolvent, or have owners or directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt
  • have an annual turnover of more than $75,000
  • have an annual payroll in Queensland of not more than $10 million
  • demonstrate the business was directly or indirectly affected by a lock down event
  • show or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more for a 1-week period that includes at least 1 full day of a lock down event when compared against turnover achieved by the entity during the same 7-day period in 2019 (or if that 2019 period is not indicative of the entity’s typical weekly turnover, a comparable 7-day period).

Large tourism and hospitality businesses and not for profit organisations

To be eligible, you must:

  • meet all the eligibility criteria above
  • operate in the tourism and hospitality sector – check the ANZSIC codes for your eligibility

Non-employing sole traders

To be eligible, you must:

  • be an individual operating as a sole trader (this can include a non-employing business operating through a company, partnership or trust structure)
  • not employ staff
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN) for the business or not for profit organisation continuously held since 30 June 2021
  • be registered for GST
  • have a principal place of business address in Queensland and the affected business was based and trading in Queensland on 31 July 2021
  • not be insolvent, or have owners, directors, partners or trustees that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt
  • have an annual turnover of more than $75,000
  • have an annual payroll in Queensland of not more than $10 million
  • demonstrate the business was directly or indirectly affected by a lock down event
  • show or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more for a 1-week period that includes at least 1 full day of a lock down event when compared against turnover achieved by the entity during the same 7-day period in 2019 (or if that 2019 period is not indicative of the entity’s typical weekly turnover, a comparable 7-day period).

You will not be eligible for the grant if:

  • your income is solely made up of any of the following:
    • earnings from rental properties
    • interest earned on investments
    • dividends
  • you have received an Australian Government COVID-19 disaster payment.
  • you have received or are eligible for another COVID-19 business support grant.

What can the grant be used for?

The grant has been provided to offer relief and support to your business on the back of a lock down period. Funding may be used for business expenses.

When do you have to apply by?

Applications open at midday on 16 August 2021 and will close after three months on 16 November 2021.

Complete grant applications will be processed in order of receipt. Grant funds will be paid within two weeks of approval.

Approved applicants must agree to complete an acquittal survey within three to six months after approval of their application and funding being transferred to their nominated bank account. Failure to do so may impact on eligibility for future grant programs.

What documentation is required?

Applicants are required to demonstrate or declare they have experienced a reduction in turnover of 30% or more over a nominated 7-day period (including at least 1 full day of a lock down event) compared against the same 7-day period in 2019 (or if that period is not indicative of the entity’s typical weekly turnover another nominated 7-day period). To demonstrate:

  • Direct Impact (not able to operate): you may complete a declaration in your application to this effect.
  • Indirect Impact (able to operate): you may:
    • provide sales turnover information from your business records for the relevant periods, or
    • rely on a dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.

Applicants are required to demonstrate they employ staff (in addition to the business owners and be employed on the businesses payroll). Evidence may include:

  • business financial statements, business payroll records, payroll tax return information; or
  • a dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.

Applicants are required to demonstrate an annual payroll up to $10 million during any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years (except for large tourism and hospitality businesses in the identified tourism and hospitality sector (link to ANZSIC Codes)). Evidence may include:

  • business payroll records, payroll tax return information; or
  • a dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.

Applicants are required to demonstrate annual turnover of over $75,000 during any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years. Evidence may include:

  • BAS statements or ATO records, or
  • a dated accountant letter on letterhead from a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.

To verify your trading location, you may provide:

  • publicly reachable web information to identify business operations for example, website or social media pages; or
  • utility bills for the business location. A template is available at business.qld.gov.au/supportgrant setting out what the accountant or tax professional’s letter must include.

What are the lock down areas?

South-East Queensland lock down – 31 July to 8 August 2021

The following 11 Local Government Areas:

  • City of Brisbane
  • City of Gold Coast
  • City of Ipswich
  • Lockyer Valley Regional Council
  • Logan City
  • Moreton Bay Region
  • Noosa Shire Council
  • Redland City
  • Scenic Rim Regional Council
  • Somerset Regional Council
  • Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Cairns and Yarrabah lock down – 8 August to 11 August 2021

The following two Local Government Areas:

  • Cairns Regional Council
  • Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

How to apply?

 You will need to apply online with supporting evidence through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) portal at https://applyonline.qrida.qld.gov.au/auth/login/

 If you wish to apply, discuss eligibility, or see how this grant can best benefit your business, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 1300 620 345.