31 Dec 2021

Financial support for tourism & hospitality

Welcome news for the tourism and hospitality sector with a targeted financial support package announced today by the State Government, as well as changes to the state’s border arrangements.

Premier Steven Marshall said the $40 million package was aimed primarily at businesses affected by the latest COVID restrictions and density limits, with funding available from next week.

He joined with Treasurer Rob Lucas to announce that several grants would assist businesses across the state – including additional funding to assist hard-hit CBD businesses – as well as tax and fees relief.

The Business Support Package consists of:

  • Grants of up to $22,000 for eligible* tourism and hospitality businesses and gyms
    • Automatic payments of up to $11,000
      • For businesses in the relevant industry sectors that have previously received the Additional COVID-19 Business Support grant
      • Grants are $3,000 for employing businesses with a turnover below $2 million**, and $10,000 for those employing tourism and hospitality businesses with turnover above $2 million; $1,000 for non-employing businesses, and a further $1,000 for businesses with commercial premises in the Adelaide CBD.
  • Further payments, on application, of up to $11,000
    • Subject to turnover reduction of 30 per cent over the two week period commencing 27 December 2021, compared to equivalent period in 2019-20***
    • Amount consistent with the automatic payment, bringing total payments under the automatic and on application rounds up to $20,000 or $22,000 if operating in the Adelaide CBD. 
  • A Major Events Support Grant of up to $100,000 for events cancelled or postponed due to the density restrictions introduced from 27 December 2021, for events scheduled between 27 December 2021 and 27 January 2022.
    • Other criteria consistent with the previous Major Events Support Grant.
  • Payroll tax deferral for tourism, hospitality and gyms impacted by the trading restrictions upon application to RevenueSA. Any business operating in eligible sectors is able to apply for a deferral of payroll tax payments due over the period January to March 2022. Deferred payments will be due from April 2022.
  • Liquor licence fees waived for liquor licence holders (not including packaged liquor sales or bottle shops) that were eligible and received JobKeeper payments under the second extension of the JobKeeper scheme from 4 January 2021 and had liquor licence fees halved for 2021-22 will have the remaining half of liquor licence fees paid/payable waived.

More details of the grants can be found at: treasury.sa.gov.au.

Premier Marshall also announced changes to our state’s border entry rules:

  • Interstate travellers will no longer need to apply via EntryCheck SA nor have a Rapid Antigen Test
  • As of midnight tonight, fully vaccinated travellers from overseas will no longer need to isolate on arrival but will require a PCR test on arrival. Unvaccinated travellers are still required to undertake 14 days of quarantine in a medi-hotel.

He also clarified South Australia’s position regarding the definition of a “close contact”.

In SA, close contacts are defined as:

  • household and household-like contacts and intimate partners
  • those who have been in a setting where there has been significant transmission of COVID-19 (and there has been greater than 15 minutes face-to-face contact)
  • those in high-risk communities/settings/workplaces where someone has tested positive to COVID-19 (and there has been greater than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact).

Most close contacts will receive an SMS from SA Health. However, if you know you are a close contact, please do not wait for the SMS – the strong advice is to get tested and isolate immediately. For further advice, please refer to covid-19.sa.gov.au.

Finally, thank you for everything you have done for our state’s tourism sector this year. I know it has been a challenging one for many.

I’m using my New Year’s Eve wish for a safe and happy 2022 for tourism and for everyone working so hard to drive our visitor economy.

Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive

Notes:
All components apply for eligible businesses with an Australia-wide grouped payroll of less than $10 million in 2019-20
* Must fall within an eligible ANZIC code or be required to operate under the 1 person per 7 square metre density restriction. Must have a valid ABN and be registered for GST
**Turnover based on 2019-20 or 2020-21
***Or 2020-21 if business did not trade in 2019-20.