Business and industry support

A suite of initiatives is available to support Queensland business and industry who are impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus). For further information on the measures listed below, please follow the hyperlinks in the underlined headings, go to https://www.business.qld.gov.au or call 13 74 68.

Supply chain support and assistance

Support for manufacturers or businesses who are having difficulties accessing supplies to continue to operate, employ and meet their customer needs.

Queensland COVID-19 Jobs Support Loans

Expressions of interest are now open for a $500 million loan facility to support Queensland businesses, impacted by COVID-19, to retain employees and maintain their operations.

The loan facility will comprise low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period.

COVID-19 business support

Support is available for impacted small and medium businesses to build resilience, grow and succeed. This includes financial workshops in partnership with local bodies, business mentoring and a dedicated small business hotline to access information and referral to support services.

Payroll tax support

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

• you are an employer (or part of a group of employers) who pays $6.5 million or less in Australian taxable wages, and
• your current turnover, profit, customers, bookings, retail sales, supply contracts or other factors—compared with normal operating conditions—have been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19.

Find out more and access the online form to apply.

Support for tourism operators and hospitality providers

Fees and charges relief for tourism operators and hospitality providers include:

• waiving application fees for some variations to liquor licences
• waiving registration renewal fees for Inbound Tour Operators
• waiving of daily fees for commercial activity agreements and permits
• rebate on Marina Charges and Passenger Levies
• deferral of Tourism Lease Rent Payments.

Support for agriculture and fisheries

• Market diversification and resilience grants (MDRG) are now available to support activities including, but not limited to, market evaluation studies, market visits, training, new equipment such as refrigeration or cryovac machines, and boat modifications necessary to meet new market requirements.
• The MDRG program will benefit Queensland agriculture, food and fishing exporters and their critical supply chain partners, as well as industry organisations working with exporters to build resilience by diversifying into new markets (international or interstate).

Industry recovery package

• The Queensland Government has released a $27.25 million immediate industry recovery package to assist local government, business and industry with resilience and recovery strategies to deal with and mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Other fisheries support

• The catch area for tropical rock lobster will be extended for three months to reduce operating costs for quota holders and enable alternative markets to be developed.
• Fishing boat licence fees and quota fees for tropical rock lobster and coral trout will be temporarily waived.
• For further information, fishers can contact the DAF Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.

Support for exporters

• The $1.1 million ‘Market Ready’ initiative will provide tailored export advice to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) on leveraging opportunities in the Chinese online market, support brand development by providing market intelligence and expert advice for exporters entering new markets and host China market development forums to provide practical export advice.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to Contact us.