Act of grace payments

Payments: 

• 1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023: NIL
• 1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022: $4,927,599 (232 recipients)

Program duration: 3/3/2020-30/6/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The NSW Bushfire Duty Relief Scheme was for eligible recipients whose homes were destroyed during the 2019/20 NSW bushfires.

Under the Scheme, people could opt to purchase a replacement property in a new location rather than rebuild their destroyed home, and obtain relief from transfer duty. To be eligible for the relief, the applicant must have used the destroyed property as their principal place of residence and must have intended the replacement property to be used as their principal place of residence.

Eligible recipients for the Duty Relief Scheme either:

• did not have to pay transfer duty on the eligible property, or
• paid a reduced amount of duty, or
• received a full or partial refund of duty, if duty had already been paid.

The application period was from 3 March 2020 to 2 March 2022.

Program duration: 10/3/2021-30/6/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The Dine & Discover program encourages the community to get out and about to support dining, the arts and recreation businesses, all of which have been impacted by COVID-19. 

Program duration: 01/3/2021-31/10/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The Return to Work Program is a NSW Government initiative designed to provide tailored support to women seeking to re-enter the workforce after a period of absence.

A one-off Return to Work grant of $5,000 is available for eligible applicants and can be used to purchase:

• education and training
• support materials for courses
• work necessities, such as specialist clothing, equipment or IT
• transportation costs
• childcare or respite

Eligibility requirements

Applicants may be eligible to receive a payment and to participate in the RTW Program, if they:

• are a woman, and
• are a NSW resident, and
• are unemployed, and have been out of work for one month or more, or
• are unemployed and if previously self-employed or a small business owner, demonstrate at least one month of income loss, and have an intention to return to the workforce as an employee, and
• intend to return to work within 6 months, and
• worked a minimum average of 10 hours a week or more in the most recent period of employment (for women who have never worked, or have been out of the workforce for an extended period, this may be waived, at the discretion of Service NSW and Women NSW)
• have an active My Service NSW Account or are willing to set up a My Service NSW Account, and
• apply to receive payment under the Program via their My Service NSW Account, and
• provide two acceptable forms of identification to prove their identity.

Program duration: 01/04/2021-30/06/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The Small Business Fees & Charges Rebate was launched to support businesses to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and incentivise business growth by reducing the cost of running a business.

The $3,000 Small Business Rebate Scheme replaces the previous $1,500 and $2,000 Small Business Rebate Scheme as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery package. Small businesses already registered for the Small Business Rebate Scheme will not be required to re-register; these businesses will receive an automatic increase to their digital voucher. New businesses registering for the Scheme will receive one $3,000 digital voucher.

Eligibility requirements

Small businesses (including non-employing sole-traders) and non-profit organisations are eligible for $3,000 worth of rebates on government fees and charges if they:

• have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2m
• have their own Australian Business Number (ABN) registered and/or are physically located and operating in New South Wales. Only one $3,000 rebate is available for a single ABN
• employing small businesses only are eligible to claim 50 per cent of the cost of RATs, up to the rebate value of $3,000.

Program duration: 16/02/2022-29/04/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The 2022 Small Business Support Program provide cash flow support to help businesses survive the immediate impacts of the Omicron wave of COVID-19 and maintain employee-employer relationships due to the public health orders. Eligible businesses receive one payment covering the four-week period of February 2022. Businesses will not receive payment for January 2022.Eligible employing businesses receive the equivalent of 20 per cent of weekly payroll for work performed in New South Wales:

1.  the minimum payment will be $750 per week, and
2. the maximum payment will be $5,000 per week.

Eligible non-employing businesses will receive $500 per week.

The Small Business Support Program payment will help eligible businesses cover business costs and survive the immediate impacts of the Omicron wave of COVID-19. These costs may include, but are not limited to, the following expenses:

• salaries and wages
• utilities and rent
• financial, legal or other advice
• marketing and communications
• perishable goods, or
•  other business costs.

Eligibility requirements

Businesses impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible if they:

1. had an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating in New South Wales on 1 January 2021
2. had an aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020 (must use the financial year for the Australian Tax Return most recently lodged with the ATO)
3. experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more due to the impacts of COVID-19 during the month of January 2022, compared to January 2021 or January 2020
4. experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more due to the impacts of COVID-19 from 1-14 February 2022 compared to the same fortnight in February in the comparison year used for criterion (c) above, and
5. maintain their employee headcount from 30 January to 28 February 2022.

Other criteria apply, such as decline in turnover due to COVID-19.

Program duration: 30/09/2021-30/11/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The NSW Accommodation Support Grant Program provides support to accommodation providers that experienced cancellations for stays occurring between Friday 25 June and Sunday 11 July inclusive as a result of the lockdown restrictions.

It is part of the more than $5.1bn support package announced by NSW Government to the hospitality industry.

Here are 2 types of payment for eligible providers:

• Tier 1: $2,000 for a cancellation of 10 nights or less  
• Tier 2: $5,000 for a cancellation or 11 nights or more

Eligibility requirements

To participate in the scheme, businesses must pre-register through Service NSW. To register, the primary business of the applicant must be:

• an accommodation premises as defined by the eligible ANZSIC codes
• physically located in NSW
• be a legitimate applicant authorised to act on behalf of a legitimate business . A template letter will be provided by SNSW.
• have a valid bank account
• have a current and active ABN, which is GST registered (or be a legitimate new business) held before 25 June 2021
• pass a series of security and fraud checks
• agree to the Terms and Conditions
• subject to the application requirements.

Program duration: 17/11/2021-31/05/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The commercial Landlords Hardship Fund provides grants of up to $3,000 per month for small commercial or retail landlords per property who will or have experienced hardship as a result of providing Rental Relief to their tenants under the Retail and Other Commercial Leases.

There are two tranches of payments:

1. Grants will be paid as a lump sum amount for the rent waived from 1 August to 14 November 2021.
2. Grants will be paid as a lump sum amount for the rent waived from 15 November 2021 to 13 January 2022.

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must:

1. in relation to Property situated in New South Wales that is affected by a current Impacted Lease, for each Property: 
   — be the Landlord
   — have entered into an agreement to provide Rental Relief to tenants(s) from 13 July 2021 (noting that a minimum 30% reduction in rent is required per eligibility requirements of the 2021 COVID-19 Micro Grant, 2021 COVID-19-Business grant and 2021 JobSaver Payment) to be eligible
   — have or will not claim land tax relief between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021 for Tranches 1 and 2 only;
2. excluding the value of any principal place of residence, have Total Land Holdings the value of which is equal to or less than $5 million (as at 31 December 2020, under the Land Tax Management Act 1956). For the avoidance of doubt, partial land holdings must be included in the calculation of total taxable land holdings to the extent owned by the applicant;
3. have gross rental income as their primary source of income (gross rental income being more than 50% of total gross income) for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial year;
4. attest that providing rent relief to the tenant(s) may cause financial hardship within the meaning of clause 1.2.

Program duration: 26/07/2021-30/11/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The Job Saver program was launched to provide cashflow support to impacted businesses to help them maintain their NSW employee headcount from 13 July.
The program objective is to help businesses save jobs to support the economy after restrictions are lifted.
Service NSW and Revenue NSW launched the JobSaver on behalf of the NSW and Commonwealth Government.
Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations will receive fortnightly payments backdated to the start of the fortnight they first experienced the required decline in turnover on or after the commencement of JobSaver on 18 July 2021.

Businesses and not-for-profit organisations eligibility requirement:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating in New South Wales on 1 June 2021;
• had an aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020;
• experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum 2-week period commencing 26 June 2021, compared to same period in 2019 & 2020
• maintain their employee headcount from 13 July 2021 if they receive payments from the commencement of JobSaver, or otherwise from the day immediately prior to the fortnight they first experienced the required decline in turnover while they continue to receive JobSaver payments; businesses that do not maintain the declared headcount must notify Service NSW.

Businesses in the hospitality, tourism and recreation industries with an aggregated annual turnover of more than $250 million and up to $1 billion may be eligible for support under the extension to the JobSaver scheme.

Charities who are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) under the subtypes of ‘advancing social or public welfare’ or ‘preventing or relieving the suffering of animals’ may be eligible for JobSaver under an extension to the JobSaver scheme.

Businesses located in the Jervis Bay Territory that were not operating in New South Wales on 1 June 2021 will be eligible for JobSaver payments if they meet all other eligibility criteria. Work performed in the Jervis Bay Territory will be taken to be work performed in New South Wales for businesses and not-for-profit organisations located in the Jervis Bay Territory.

For non-employing businesses, the business receiving payments must be the primary income source (i.e., 50% or more of total income) for the associated person. Individuals with more than one non-employing business may only claim payment for one business.

Employees can receive Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payments if their employer is receiving JobSaver.

Non-employing businesses are not eligible for the JobSaver payment if individuals associated with and deriving income from the business have received a Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment for the same period.

Program duration: 26/07/2021-18/10/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program 

The 2021 COVID-19 Micro-Business Grant was designed to provide cashflow support to micro–businesses with an aggregated annual turnover more than $30,000 and less than $75,000.

The grant helps micro-businesses survive the lockdown so they can continue to support the economy after restrictions are lifted.

Eligible businesses (including non-employing businesses such as non- employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations can apply for a fortnightly payment of $1,500 to cover business expenses for the duration of the lockdown.

Service NSW will deliver the grant on behalf of the NSW Government.

Eligibility criteria for businesses and not-for-profit organisations:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) as at 1 June 2021 registered in, or can demonstrate they are primarily operating in, New South Wales;
• had an national aggregated annual turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000 for the year ended 30 June 2020;
• they experienced a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period within the Greater Sydney lockdown (commenced 26 June 2021), compared to the same period in 2019 & 2020
• business costs for which there is no other government support available;
• have not applied for either the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant, or the JobSaver scheme;
• for employing businesses, they must maintain their employee headcount from 13 July 2021 while they continue to receive grant payments (businesses that do not maintain their headcount agree to notify Service NSW)
• for non-employing businesses, the business receiving payments must be the primary income source for the associated person. Individuals with more than one non-employing business may only claim payments for one business.

Non eligible:

• Non-employing businesses are not eligible to apply if persons associated with the business, and who derive income from it, have received a Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
• Employees can receive Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payments if their employer is receiving the grant. Certain entities, such as those primarily earning passive income (rents, interest, or dividends) or those with an ABN registered after 1 June 2021.

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Music and overnight camp program was launched to provide financial assistance to businesses disproportionately impacted by settings in schools at the end of Term 4 2021. While most public health order restrictions were lifted in October 2021, some businesses continued to be impacted by restrictions in schools under the NSW Government COVID-safe settings for schools. These settings sought to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the largely unvaccinated or partially vaccinated student population.
Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisation are able to receive one-off payment equal to 40% of their decline in value in Term 4 2021 turnover (compared to previous years), up to $15,000

Eligibility requirements

Businesses and sole traders may be eligible for a one-off payment of up to $30,000 depending on the decline in turnover in November and December of Term 4 2021, where they are a business that meets all the criteria:

• a reference to ‘business’ or ‘businesses’ in these guidelines should be interpreted as including both business(es), registered charity(ies) and other not-for-profit organisation(s);
• an eligible business was impacted by statewide settings in schools that were still in place from 8 November 2021, and provided the following services may be eligible: music education that was unable to proceed due to restrictions on instruments that rely on breath, singing or chanting (including ensembles and bands where relevant) and overnight excursions (including camps)
• the payment is available to providers reliant on business from any part of the NSW school sector;
• experienced financial hardship because of NSW Government COVID-safe settings in schools after 8 November 2021;
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in New South Wales or can demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in New South Wales. Only one payment is available for a single ABN;
• have total Australian wages up to $10 million as of 1 July 2020;
• have an annual turnover of more than $30,000 for the year ending 30 June 2020;
• declare that a minimum 50 per cent of their income in either Term 4 in 2020 or 2019 was derived from business with or at a school in NSW impacted by the NSW Government COVID-safe settings for schools; and
• have experienced at least a 40 per cent decline in turnover in November and December of Term 4 2021, compared to the same period in Term 4 2020 or 2019 due to the NSW Government COVID-safe settings in schools.

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The $10,000 small business northern flood grant was launched to support small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in highly impacted local government areas (LGAs) that have been directly or indirectly impacted by the February and March 2022 flood events. The highly impacted areas are Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
A one-off payment of $10,000 is available for eligible businesses and not-forprofit organisations.
This grant is to help pay business’ operating costs during the recovery period. Covered costs could include, but are not limited to:

• salaries and wages
• utilities and rent
• government fees and charges (including local government rates)
• financial, legal or other services
• marketing or communications
• perishable goods
• other business costs.

Businesses impacted by flooding events will be eligible if they:

• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) and were physically located and operating in a highly impacted Northern Rivers LGA on 1 January 2021;
• derived at least $75,000 in GST turnover in the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020 from a business physically located in one of the seven highly impacted Northern Rivers LGAs (see Attachment A);
• had an aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $10 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020;
• experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more during the entire month of March 2022, compared to the entire month of March 2021 or March 2020 due to the impacts of flooding; and
• intend to continue operating and or re-establish operations within the highly impacted Norther Rivers LGAs.

Businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover for reasons other than flooding, such as seasonal variations, COVID-19 or have closed for holidays or renovations, are ineligible.

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The NSW Government launched Parents NSW Vouchers to reward and thank eligible NSW households for their efforts to support learning from home in 2021.
The scheme offers all NSW primary carers of school aged children 5 x $50 vouchers to use against the cost of entertainment experiences and registered accommodation venues across NSW.

Eligibility requirements

1. All NSW households where a school-enrolled child resided in 2021 are eligible for this program.
2. NSW adults or households (including those of other family members) that are not the school-enrolled child’s parent, guardian or carer but who supported the child (or children) to undertake learning from home, are not eligible for this program.
3. Households are defined as where a school-enrolled child(ren) resides, who is: 
   • a NSW resident;
   • aged between 4.5 and 18 years in 2021;
   • enrolled in school (from Kindergarten to Year 12, including those who are home-schooled or enrolled in secondary school education at TAFE NSW); and
   • has a Medicare number.
4. Each eligible household is eligible to apply once for the Parents NSW Voucher to receive 5 x $50 vouchers. Only one applicant per household can apply. One set of 5 x $50 vouchers is provided per eligible household, irrespective of the number of school-enrolled children residing at the household. 3.f. To apply on behalf of the household, you must be a parent, guardian or carer of a school-enrolled child and reside at the same residential address as the school-enrolled child. The following criteria must be met: 
   • Provide proof of residential address (address of the household) where the applicant and school-enrolled child reside;
   • Be aged 18 or over;
   • Be a NSW resident;
   • Hold a valid Medicare card; and
   • Provide the name of the educational institution of the school-enrolled child.
5. Applicants must also agree to the terms and conditions.
6. Where the school-enrolled child has two parents, guardians or carers at separate addresses, and resides at both addresses, both households are eligible for the full set of vouchers. These applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
7. A school-enrolled child can reside at a maximum of 2 households for the purpose of this program. Overnight stays with family and/or friends, or addresses of holiday homes, are not considered households for the purpose of this program.

Program duration: 24/03/2022-24/06/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Rental Support Payment is intended as a one-off payment for eligible households to help pay for costs towards short-term accommodation, where the residential property they have occupied as their principal place of residence at the time of the Eligible Disaster is considered non-habitable due to being impacted by the eligible disaster.
The payment is based on the number of people who normally live in your home who need short-term accommodation:

• 1 person - $6,000
• 2 people - $7,200
• 3 people - $9,200
• 4 people - $12,400
• 5 people - $15,200
• 6 people - $18,000

This covers AGRN 1012, 1025, 1034. 

Eligibility criteria

• NSW resident aged 18 or over
• the damaged property is the principal place of residence.
• the damaged property is a house, apartment or moveable dwelling such as caravan, motorhome, relocatable home, cabin or shipping container
• unable to claim temporary accommodation costs under an insurance policy or your insurance does not cover the full length of your accommodation needs.

If the damage occurred during the February and March 2022 storms and floods your property must be in a highly impacted suburb.
If the damage occurred during the June and July 2022 storms and floods your property must be in a defined disaster area (AGRN 1025).

Program duration: 24/03/2022-24/06/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Back Home program was launched to assist a wider cohort of individuals and families currently displaced from their homes, and unable to claim on insurance, to return to their homes.
The initiative supplements existing support under Category A of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (which is limited to low income families).

Payments are available as follows:

• $20,000 for owner-occupiers to repair or replace essential household items and/or restore housing to a habitable condition
• $15,000 for owner-investors to restore housing to a habitable condition
• $5,000 for tenants to repair or replace essential household items or relocate these items to a new residential property.

This covers AGRN 1012, 1025, 1034. 

Eligibility requirements

1. An owner of, or a tenant that lives in (or lived in at the time of the floods), a damaged property located in a local government area (LGA) as follows: 

• February and March 2022 storms and floods (AGRN 1012): Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Byron, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kyogle, Lismore, Lithgow, Penrith, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield, The Hills, Tweed and includes the entirety of any suburb partly within these LGAs and partly within another LGA.
• June and July 2022 storms and floods (AGRN 1025): Blacktown, Camden, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Penrith, Port Stephens, Singleton, Sutherland, The Hills, Wollongong and includes the entirety of any suburb partly within these LGAs and partly within another LGA.

2. Unable to claim the costs of restoring the damaged property to a habitable condition or replacing essential household contents under an insurance policy, including: 

• uninsured for severe weather and/or flood damage;
• insured for severe weather and/or flood damage but do not have sufficient funding from your insurance claim; or
• unable to claim for severe weather and/or flood damage

3. ineligible for other, more comprehensive support measures available for those on low incomes and with limited assets. 

Program duration: 19/07/2022-01/10/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant was launched to provide cash flow support to businesses impacted during the first 3 weeks of the restrictions (from 26 June to 17 July).
The intention of the grant is to help businesses survive the restrictions so they can continue to support employment and the economy after restrictions are lifted.
The grant can be used to cover business expenses for which no other government support is available.
Eligible businesses (including non-employing businesses such as non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations can apply for a one-off grant of $7,500 (tier one) or $10,500 (tier two) or $15,000 (tier three) via one application:

• Tier 1: Businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for a grant of $7,500.
• Tier 2: Businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover of 50% or more due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for a grant of $10,500.
• Tier 3: Businesses that have experienced a decline in turnover of 70% or more due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for a grant of $15,000

Eligibility requirements 

Tier 1 payment eligibility $7,500 payment:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating in New South Wales on 1 June 2021;
• have total annual Australian wages of $10 million or less on 1 July 2020;
• had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020;
• have business costs for which there is no other government support available;
• experienced a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to previous years.
• for employing businesses, maintain their employee headcount from 13 July 2021 while they continue to receive payments under this Grant and the JobSaver scheme (businesses that do not maintain the declared headcount must notify Service NSW)
• for non-employing businesses, the business receiving payments must be the primary income source for the associated person. Individuals with more than one non-employing business may only claim payment for one business.

Tier 2 grant eligibility $10,500 payment :

• meet the eligibility criteria for the $7,500 (tier one) grant set out in Section 3.1, except they must: have experienced a decline in turnover of 50 per cent or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in 2019 & 2020

Tier 3 grant eligibility $15,000 payment:

• meet the eligibility criteria for the $7,500 (tier one) grant set out in Section 3.1, except they must have experienced a decline in turnover of 70 per cent or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 26 June 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in 2019 & 2020

General requirements:

• A different comparison period may be used for businesses on the Victorian border impacted by the Victorian Stay at Home Directions that commenced on 27 May 2021.
• Eligible businesses may only apply for one grant tier.
• Only one application can be submitted for a single ABN.
• Only one application is permitted where there are multiple businesses under a single ABN.

Program duration: 21/02/2022-09/10/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The NSW Government launched the Stay & Rediscover Voucher Scheme to support accommodation providers in the City of Sydney area.
Up to 200,000 vouchers worth $100 each will be available for NSW residents to use towards the cost of accommodation bookings.
The vouchers are available to adult NSW residents only.
There will be a limit of one voucher per person. Customers can only participate once across the length of the program.
Vouchers can only be used once (i.e. customers cannot draw down on a voucher multiple times).
Multiple vouchers can be redeemed for the same booking (i.e. two adult residents staying together in the same room can both redeem the $50 voucher, totalling $100).

Business Eligibility requirements: 

• businesses physically located within the City of Sydney LGA postcode (the pilot will be limited to the 2000 postcode)
• Airbnb and Online Travel Agencies (booking.com) to be excluded
• be a legitimate application authorised to act on behalf of the business
• have a valid bank account
• have a current and active ABN, which is registered for GST
• have a COVID-Safe plan and be registered as a COVID-Safe business
• pass a series of security and fraud checks
• agree to the terms and conditions

Customer Eligibility:

• available to NSW residents only
• have a myServiceNSW account
• be a legitimate applicant, aged 18 or over
• provide 2 forms of Proof of Identity which are then verified (POI L2)
• agree to the terms and conditions
• only participate once
• vouchers can be used 7 days per week including public holidays

Program duration: 16/08/2021-31/01/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Test & Isolate program was launched to provide financial support NSW workers without access to sick leave, including guardians or carers, who miss out on earning income due to voluntarily presenting for a COVID-19 test and isolating while they wait for the result.
The $320 one off payment will help to ensure that workers without access to sick leave are supported to comply with public health directions and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in workplaces and the community. 
The payment is only made once in a 30-day period, from the date that the individual took the  COVID-19 test without access to sick leave.

Eligibility requirements

Individuals or a carer or guardian on behalf of an individual, can apply for a payment of up to $320, if they are required to take a COVID-19 test and must isolate at their place of residence to await the test results.
The individual must reside in Greater Sydney in an affected LGA and have experienced a loss of income or wages. The payment can only be made once in a 30-day period, from the date that the individual took the COVID-19 test. 
 

An application may be made by: 

(a) Any individual who;

• is 17 years of age or over; and
• is required to take a test for COVID-19 pursuant to the Public Health Order; and
• is required to isolate at their place of residence to wait for the test results; and
• their place of residence is in the Greater Sydney area and in an affected LGA; and
• is normally in paid employment where they receive a wage or salary; and
• cannot reasonably perform their paid employment from their place of residence whilst isolating; and
• will not be receiving or has not received, any income, earnings or salary maintenance from work as a result of not being able to work during the period of isolation; and
• has exhausted their sick and/or carer’s leave entitlements from their employment, including any special pandemic leave or has no entitlement to such leave; and
• is not receiving income support from the Australian Government (including the Disaster Payment, Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment) or financial support from the NSW Government (such as Microbusiness Grant or JobSaver) for the same period.

(b) A carer or guardian on behalf of an individual who meets the eligibility requirements set out at clause 3.2 above. An application must only be made once within any thirty-day period, beginning with the date on which the individual’s COVID-19 test was taken.

Program duration: 16/08/2021-11/06/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

On 19 December 2020, the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (“the Northern Beaches Public Health Order”) was issued. This restricted freedom of movement, gatherings and the ability of certain premises to open on the Northern Beaches. The NSW Government launched the Northern Beaches Hardship Grant to make one off payment to help small business impacted by the Northern Beaches Public Health Order to meet unavoidable cost.

Eligible businesses (including non-employing businesses such as non-employing sole traders) and Not-for-Profit Organisations can apply for a one-off grant of $3,000 (tier one) or $5,000 (tier two) via one application.

Eligibility requirements: 

Tier 1 eligibility $3,000 payment: 

• they are a business or a Not-for-Profit Organisation with fewer than 20 FTE (this includes non-employing entities);
• have an Australian Business Number registered in, or they can demonstrate they are, as at 1 December 2020, physically located and primarily operating in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area; 
• have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year; 
• have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020; 
• have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 as at 1 March 2020; 
• had unavoidable business costs during the Northern Beaches lockdown, for which there is no other government support available.

Tier 2 eligibility $5,000 payment:

• meet the eligibility criteria for the $3,000 (tier one) grant set out in Section 3.1, except they must: 
• have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 50 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year.

Payments: 

• 1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023: NIL
• 1 July 2021 - 30 June 2022: $368,168 (63 recipients)

Program duration: 3/3/2020-30/6/2021

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Land Tax Bushfire Relief program provided tax relief to landowners with a 2020 Land Tax liability for a property that was substantially or wholly damaged by the 2019/20 NSW bushfires.

The relief was a reduction in the landowner's land tax liability in respect the bushfire damaged property. Notices of assessment for the 2020 tax year were held back from the annual batch assessment program and later issued showing the reduction in land tax liability.

Payments: 

• 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023: $3,370,483 (334 recipients)
• 1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022: $649,251,486 ( 22,214 recipients)

Program duration: 1/4/2020-28/2/2022

Minister delegation: Hon Victor Dominello, MP

About the program

The Land Tax COVID-19 Relief program provided relief for both the 2020 and 2021 land tax years for eligible commercial and residential landowners who provided a rent reduction to a tenant experiencing financial distress due to COVID-19.

For the 2020-2021 financial year, there were two separate phases to the relief, with differing criteria.

Phase One

1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020 and 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2020

In each period, relief of up to 25% of land tax liability was available, giving a total of up to 50% relief for the 2020 tax year.

Commercial leases - relief was available where tenants had an annual turnover of up to $50 million and experienced a reduction in turnover compared to a previous comparable period of 30% or more.

Residential leases - a reduction in household income of 25% or more was required.

Phase Two

1 January 2021 to 28 March 2021

Relief of up to 25% of the land tax liability was available to commercial landlords who provided a reduction in rent to commercial leases and impacted lessees as defined by the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation (No 3) 2020.

Eligibility criteria required tenants to have an annual turnover of up to $5 million and experienced a reduction in turnover for the quarter ending 30 December 2020 compared to the previous period of 30% or more. In the case of a non-profit body, a 15% or more reduction in turnover was required.