Other Government Funding and Support
Queensland Government Support
The Queensland Government has unveiled a range of initiatives to help support Queenslanders and businesses though COVID-19. More information can be found at the Queensland Government COVID-19 website.
Access online skill sets and micro-credentials through TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity in food service, community care, health support, customer engagement, digital literacy and cyber security.
Small Businesses COVID-19 Adaption Grant program
Supports small businesses subject to closure or highly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown restrictions announced by the Queensland Government, to adapt and sustain their operations, and build resilience
Queenslanders whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19 and are now looking for work, can register their details, location and skills to be matched with suitable job opportunities by professional recruitment agencies.
A new Jobs Support $500 million loan facility, interest free for the first 12 months, to support businesses to keep Queenslanders in work, with loans of up to $250 000. Expressions of interest for the new Jobs Support loans can be registered online.
Worker and industry support package
A $500 million worker displacement program to help unemployed people get jobs in sectors facing shortages.
A return of payroll tax from the last two months to small, medium and affected large businesses. Small and medium businesses will be given a payroll tax holiday for the next three months, followed by a deferral for the rest of the year. Large businesses will have their payroll tax deferred for the rest of the year.
An initial $27.25 million COVID-19 industry recovery package to assist local government, business and industry with resilience and recovery strategies, targeted financial support and counselling.
Federal Government Support - Economic Stimulus Measures
Please regard the information below as summary guidance for the arts and cultural sector only. For any specific questions, please contact your bookkeeper, taxation professional or the Australian Taxation Office.
JobKeeper is a temporary scheme in which employers will receive fortnightly payments of $1,500 for workers (including casuals and soletraders) for up to six months, for each eligible employee that was on their books on 1 March 2020. The payment will ensure eligible employers and employees stay connected even if businesses move into hibernation.
Key Points for the Arts and Cultural Sector
- It is important that businesses and self-employed individuals register in the first instance with the ATO
- Businesses and self-employed individuals should discuss specific circumstances with a taxation or accounting professional after initial registration.
- Given the highly variable turnover of many businesses and self-employed individuals, the Tax Commissioner will have discretion to consider additional information that the business can provide to establish that they have been adversely affected by the impacts of the COVID-19
- Organisations and self-employed individuals in receipt of government grants should consider their eligibility after registration, noting the Job Keeper Subsidy is based on a turnover test, rather than a test of earned income only.
Boosting cash flow for employers
The Boosting Cash Flow for Employers initiative provides up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium-sized businesses, and not-for-profits (NFPs) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000 spread over the next three activity statement periods.
For Arts and Cultural business, it is important that activity and taxations statements are up to date. For not-for-profit-entities, it is based on evidence of payments to employees
Assuming quarterly activity statements, payments will be spread across the next three reporting quarters, with at least $10,000 in the current quarter, $5,000 June quarter and $5,000 September quarter.
The Cash Flow Assistance fact sheet can be found here.
Australia Council Resilience Fund
The Australia Council for the Arts has announced a 2020 Resilience Fund across three streams.
Australia Council first Response Package
The Federal Government, through The Australia Council has announced its first Response Package to support artists, arts practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations coping with the impact of COVID-19.
Targeted Support for Indigenous Arts, Regional Arts and Support Act
Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program
$7 million in additional funding allocated under the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.
$10 million provided to industry charity Support Act. Support Act is an Australian charity that delivers crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music. It has expanded its services to offer Crisis Relief grants to music industry professionals impacted by COVID-19.
$10 million through Regional Arts Australia’s Regional Arts Fund which is delivered in Queensland through Flying Arts.
Updated 22/6/2020