Business bulletin: 27 November 2020

Additional support for Territory businesses

The Northern Territory (NT) Government have released two new programs to help struggling businesses continue trading and keep Territorians in jobs over the Christmas period.

The grants are aimed at supporting small businesses and not-for-profits tourism organisations, such as museums and historical sites, who have been significantly impacted by economic effects of COVID-19.

These new programs include:

• Small Business Survival Payment, and
• Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Payment.

Much like the immediate Small Business Survival Fund payments offered earlier this year, businesses and tourism organisations will be able to access one-off payments of between $2,000 and $20,000, depending on the number of full-time equivalent staff they employ, over the traditionally low tourist season.

Small Business Survival Payment eligibility

The business must be an actively trading business with an annual turnover of less than $10 million, and demonstrate a minimum 50% reduction in turnover experienced in October 2020 compared to the same time last year.

Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Payment eligibility

The organisation must be an established not-for-profit tourism attraction with a valid ABN, that has been actively operating in the NT in either owned or leased premises for at least 12 months prior to the date of announcement of this initiative.

The organisation should be able to demonstrate how they are a tourism attraction.

They must be eligible to demonstrate a 50% reduction in turnover experienced in October 2020 compared to October 2019.

Organisations and businesses can only apply once.

Applications open on 15 December and close once fund have been fully committed.

To find out more, go to the Business Recovery website.

Public holiday rates for working Boxing Day Saturday

The Northern Territory (NT) Government have declared Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December in 2020, an additional public holiday.

The change means that employees who are required to work on the public holiday will be eligible to receive public holiday penalty rates.

The appointment of an additional public holiday means that both the Saturday and the following Monday will be public holidays in relation to Boxing Day.

The NT Government will work with the relevant industry and business groups to ensure they are well informed of this proposed change and have the information they need to make the necessary business decisions.

Employers and employees should check their relevant enterprise agreements and / or award provisions and can seek further information, which is also available on the Australian Government Fairwork website.