The Federal Government announced a $17.6 billion economic plan to keep Australians in jobs, keep businesses in business and support households and the Australian economy as the world deals with the significant challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus.The government’s economic response targets four key areas:

• Delivering support for business investment
• Cash flow assistance for employers
• Stimulus payments to households to support growth
• Assistance for severely affected regions

The Government is also offering administrative relief for certain tax obligations, including deferring tax payments up to four months. This is similar to relief provided following the bushfires for taxpayers affected by the coronavirus, on a case-by-case basis.

The Australian Government is supporting Australian businesses to manage cash flow challenges and retain employees during the Coronavirus health crisis. Assistance includes:Boosting cash flow for employers

Helping small and medium businesses with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million to cover the costs of employee wages and salaries equal to 50 per cent of PAYG withheld for businesses that withhold tax, with a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $25,000 over six months. Businesses that pay salary and wages but are not required to withhold tax will also receive the minimum payment of $2,000. This will be a tax free payment, benefiting around 690,000 businesses employing 7.8 million people.

Supporting apprentices and trainees

Helping businesses retain apprentices and trainees by offering a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for nine months. The subsidy of up to a maximum of $21,000, will be available to businesses employing fewer than 20 full-time employees who retain an apprentice or trainee, or, where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer. This will support up to 70,000 small businesses employing around 117,000 apprentices.

View their fact sheet here.

The Federal Government announced a $17.6 billion economic plan to keep Australians in jobs, keep businesses in business and support households and the Australian economy as the world deals with the significant challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus.The government’s economic response targets four key areas:

• Delivering support for business investment
• Cash flow assistance for employers
• Stimulus payments to households to support growth
• Assistance for severely affected regions

The Government is also offering administrative relief for certain tax obligations, including deferring tax payments up to four months. This is similar to relief provided following the bushfires for taxpayers affected by the coronavirus, on a case-by-case basis.

Apply now for the 2020 Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarship Program and Mentoring SchemeBrisbane City Council is offering 89 business scholarships and mentoring placements for Brisbane residents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are committed to developing their business and entrepreneurial skills.

Applicants can select from the below courses and placements aimed at existing and aspiring business owners.

• Certificate IV in Small Business Management – TAFE Queensland (South Bank campus)
• Start Your Own Business Short Course – TAFE Queensland (South Bank campus)
• Diploma of Business – Rhodes Business School
• Graduate Certificate in Leadership Diversity – Rhodes Business School
• The Emotionally Intelligent Leader: One Day Enhancement Program – Rhodes Business School
• Certificate IV in Travel and Tourism – Academies Australasia
• Company Directors Course and 12-month membership – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Certificate IV in Project Management – Site Institute
• Master of Business Administration (International Business) – Federation University Australia
• Diploma of Beauty Therapy – Brisbane School of Hairdressing and Beauty
• Non-Certificate Mentoring to Launch Your Own Fashion Line – Career Employment Australia
• Non-Certificate Multicultural Round Table Mentoring Scheme

Applications for the above courses are open until 5pm, Thursday 30 April 2020.
Applications for the below courses close on the following dates:

• Bachelor of Business – Griffith University: Thursday 5 March 2020
• Bachelor of Business – Queensland University of Technology (QUT): Sunday 15 March 2020
• Master of Business Administration (Leadership) – Central Queensland University (CQ University): Opens – Friday 1 May, Closes Monday 12 June 2020

Brisbane City Council is backing Brisbane’s small businesses by providing $2 million in cuts to reduce the cost of small business fees and charges from 1 July 2019.Fee cuts are making it easier for small businesses to succeed and are helping to create thriving suburbs with cafes, food trucks, start-ups and more.

We’re also backing more than 124,000 existing small businesses with more support in the suburbs, Small Business Liaison Officers and a 24/7 business hotline. For more information, visit the Brisbane City Council here.

Industry support.

Market diversification and resilience grants are available for Queensland agriculture, food and fishing exporters and their critical supply chain partners, as well as industry organisations working with exporters.

Find further support for:

• commercial fishers
• commercial tourism operators working in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service-managed areas
• liquor licence holders

Read more about the Immediate Industry Recovery Package

Payroll tax relief package

If your business has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), you may be able to apply for a relief package to defer lodging and paying payroll tax returns until 31 July 2020

Read more about deferring payroll tax returns due to coronavirus.

More information can be found here.