Today, Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has revealed the details of a $4b economic relief package targeted at households, health and small businesses. A key measure around payroll tax means no business negatively affected by COVID-19 will need to pay payroll tax in 2020. It was also announced that the Queensland border will be closed from midnight on Wednesday, 25 March 2020.

The Queensland Government was the first to respond with measures to support businesses affected by COVID-19. The relief package includes new measures as well as expansion on previously announced support.

Business and industry support

Payroll tax concessions

• All companies with Australian taxable wages up to $6.5m, are entitled to a refund of the last 2 months and a payroll tax holiday for 3 months. These businesses should receive an email about this concession. Businesses can also apply to defer payroll tax payments until the end of the 2020 calendar year.
• Companies with Australian taxable wages over $6.5m that have been directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19 can apply for a refund for the last 2 months of payroll tax and a deferral until the end of the 2020 calendar year.
• Business that have already applied for a deferral will automatically have these extended.
• Applications for the refund or tax holiday MUST be made by 31 May 2020.
• Please go here to read more about eligibility and online forms.

Other measures

• Relief for businesses renting government premises.
• $500 rebate on electricity bills for businesses that consume less than 100,000 kilowatt hours. This will be automatically applied to electricity bills.
• Liquor licensing fees waived for business impacted by enforced safety industry shutdowns.

Existing measures that are still available

• $500m loan facility, interest-free for the first 12 months, to support businesses keep their workforce.

Industry Recovery Packages available

• $3.66m commercial fishing industry assistance package
• Temporary fee relief in relation to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service-managed areas for commercial tourism operators
• Fees waived for liquor and gaming business applying to change trading hours or change a licenced area
• Market diversification and resilience grants of up to $50,000 for equipment purchases and projects for agriculture, fishing and food exporters

$2.5b for workers and households

• Up to $500 million for retraining, job-matching support to transition workers who lose their jobs to industries vital to Queensland such as health care, agriculture, food production, transport, cleaning and mining.
• $200 rebate for all 2.1m Queensland households (including the $50 Asset Ownership Dividend already announced) to offset the cost of water and electricity bills. This will be automatically applied through household electricity bills.

$1.2b funding boost for health

This funding boost will increase the capacity of Queensland’s health system to confront COVID-19, including fever clinics, additional emergency department capacity, acute care services and regional aeromedical services for our remote communities.