Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a lump sum payment to assist those who have been significantly affected by the October 2022 Victorian and New South Wales Floods.

To be eligible for the payment, you must be in a Local Government Area (LGA) that’s been declared a disaster and must meet all other relevant criteria provided on the Services Australia website.

For further eligibility requirements please follow the link; Who is Eligible

The payment is to assist with major damage to your property or other assets (not minor inconveniences), such as; your property has been destroyed or must be demolished, it’s been declared structurally unsound, the flood has caused major damage to the interior or has exposed the interior to the elements, or sewage has gotten inside.

Providing you are eligible you will receive:

– $1000 per adult

– $400 for each child younger than 16.

To apply, please follow the link; How to Claim

If your income has been affected as a direct result of the Floods, you may also be able to get the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

Disaster Recovery Allowance

The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is a short term payment to support those who have had their income affected, as a direct result of the Victorian and New South Wales Floods.

To be eligible you must earn less than the average Australian weekly income ($1,737.10) in the weeks after your income loss and must meet all other relevant criteria provided on the Services Australia website.

For further eligibility requirements, please follow the link Who is Eligible

The maximum payment is 13 weeks and is equivalent to the rate of the JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances. The payment will start from the date you started losing income, as a direct result of the Floods that started on 6 October 2022.

To apply, please follow the link; How to Claim

Emergency Re-establishment Assistance fund – Victoria

The Emergency Re-establishment Assistance fund was announced by the Premier, aimed at supporting Victorian families who have been impacted by the floods. The payment will provide up to $42,250 for uninsured properties to help with repairs and rebuilding/replacing household contents, to help restore the lives & households of many people who have been impacted by this devastating event.

Further details on this assistance is still to come.

Waste & Disposal Fees – Victoria

The Government in collaboration with councils and the waste industry are also working together to ensure that all impacted communities have access to a facility or site to dispose of their waste quickly and safely.

The gate fee and waste levy for flood waste, will be waived for the following worst-affected local government areas, ensuring all flood waste can be disposed of at landfill free of charge;

The waiver will be available until 31 December 2022,

Alpine Shire Council

Ararat Rural City Council

Banyule City Council

Benalla Rural City Council

Boroondara Council

Brimbank City Council

Buloke Shire Council

Campaspe Shire Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

City of Ballarat

City of Greater Geelong

Colac Otway Shire Council

Corangamite Shire Council

Gannawarra Shire Council

Glenelg Shire

Golden Plains Shire Council

Greater Bendigo City Council

Greater Shepparton City Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Hume City Council

Indigo Shire Council

Loddon Shire Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Manningham City Council

Mansfield Shire Council

Maribyrnong City Council

Melbourne City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Moonee Valley City Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Mount Alexander Shire Council

Moyne Shire

Murrindindi Shire Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council

Swan Hill Rural City Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Warrnambool City Council

Whittlesea Council

Wodonga Council

Wyndham City Council

Yarra Ranges Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

With COVID-19 cases rising and more and more people affected we take a look at financial support available to businesses and individuals.

COVID-19 Financial Support

Support for Businesses

COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate:

A rebate of up to 80 per cent of cleaning costs up to a maximum of $10,000.

Eligibility:

• operate from a worksite or premises in Victoria where a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
• have undertaken a ‘deep clean’ or ‘decontamination clean’ of the affected worksite
• have evidence of the expenditure
• hold an ABN
• have an annual payroll of less than $3 million
• be registered with WorkSafe if employing people.

Closing date: Ongoing/until funds are fully exhausted

Supporting Documentation

• Invoice or payment notice
• Evidence of payment
• WorkSafe Certificate of Currency (if your business employs people OR Proof of identity (if your business does not employ people)
• Evidence of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 Case

Support for Individuals & Employees

COVID-19 Test Isolation Payment:

A $450 payment to support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate while they wait for results of their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test. For More Information

COVID-19 Disaster Payment:

A lump sum payment to help workers unable to work or earn income due to a COVID-19 state or territory public health order. This may involve a lockdown, hotspot or movement restrictions. Lump sum payments range from $250-$750. For More Information

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

A one-off payment to help Victorian workers who have been directed to self-isolate or quarantine for 7+ days, or care for someone who has been directed to self-isolate or quarantine. The payment is $750 for 7 days. Alternatively, a positive person who is required to isolate for 10 days, will be able to apply for two payments of $750 each (as the payment is not pro rata). For More Information.

For further support and assistance visit Coronavirus.vic.gov.au

We take a look at the latest financial support available in NSW, given the recent mouse plague and COVID-19 outbreaks that have occurred.

NSW COVID-19 Business Support Grant

Businesses including sole trader or not-for-profit organisation impacted by the current Greater Sydney COVID-19 restrictions, may be able to apply for up to $10,000 in grants from late July 2021.

Grants can be used for business expenses such as rent, utilities and wages, for which no other government support is available.

The amount of the grant available depends on the decline in turnover experienced during the restrictions:

• $5000 for a decline of 30% or more
• $7000 for a decline of 50% or more
• $10,000 for a decline of 70% or more.

The grants will be divided into 2 streams:

• 2021 Small business COVID-19 support grant for businesses and sole traders who had turnover more than $75,000 for the year ending 30 June 2020 and total annual Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million.
  Businesses must have fewer than 20 full-time equivalent employees and an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW or be able to demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in NSW.
• Hospitality and tourism COVID-19 support grant for tourism or hospitality businesses who had turnover more than $75,000 for the year ending 30 June 2020 and total annual Australian wages below $10 million, as of 1 July 2020. Businesses must have an ABN registered in NSW or be able to demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in NSW.

The full eligibility criteria and applications to apply will be available soon.

Mouse Bait Rebates

The NSW government has announced a rebate to help manage the cost of mouse baiting in regional NSW.

The rebate covers households, primary producers and small businesses affected by the mouse plague.

How much can I claim through the rebate?

• Up to $500 per household
• Up to $1,000 for primary producers and small businesses

You can only claim one rebate per address and the baits, traps or cleaning materials must be purchased after 1 February 2021.

Where must I be located to claim?

Your property must be located in the following;

• Central Tablelands
• Central West
• Western
• Northern Tablelands
• North West
• Riverina
• Murray
• Hunter (Upper Hunter, Singleton and Muswellbrook LGAs only)
• South East (Hilltops, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley LGAs only)

To claim your rebate visit the NSW Government website

Business Costs Assistance

The program provides $2,500 grants for eligible employing and non-employing businesses in sectors most impacted. This includes businesses operating in an industry that cannot operate under the circuit breaker restrictions and which cannot work remotely.

The program will open for applications on Wednesday 2 June 2021 and will remain open for applications for three weeks.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

The $40.7 million Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 program provides businesses holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate with a $3,500 grant per premises.

The program will open for applications on Wednesday 2 June 2021 and will remain open for applications for three weeks.

Victorian Events Support Package

The $20 million package dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit-breaker restrictions.

If you would like any more information visit the Business Victoria website