The State Government has paid more than $4.6 million to small businesses in Perth, Peel and Rottnest that were affected by the ANZAC Day long weekend lockdown.

The one-off $2000 payments are being distributed to small businesses directly affected by that lockdown.

As of June 23, more than 2300 applications had been approved since the grants were launched on May 26, the Government said.

The grants are available to eligible businesses with an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4m that have a valid ABN and are registered for GST purposes, with a turnover of more than $75,000.

Businesses must have incurred losses of perishable goods, cancellations or other unforeseen costs as a result of the lockdown.

CCIWA pushed for compensation for businesses impacted by the lockdown, which was estimated to cost the WA economy about $200m.

Eligible businesses can apply for the compensation until June 30 via the Small Business Development Corporation.

$500 electricity grants

The State Government has also opened applications for the $500 electricity grant offered during the February five-day lockdown for businesses supplied with power by providers other than Synergy or Horizon Power.

The grant applied to commercial premises that incurred electricity costs during the lockdown period.

Details of the application process were released by the State Government in May, providing much-needed certainty for businesses seeking to access the compensation.

Under the scheme, each commercial premises can receive $500 credit if:

• the property is used for commercial purposes or mixed-use (not including solely residential properties);
• electricity consumption at the premises is less than 50MW/h per year or electricity bills total up to $15,000 per annum; and
• you are the owner-occupier, or a tenant at the premises who pays the electricity costs.

Business owners whose lessors pay their electricity bills can apply for the credit from June 14 to September 30 via the State Government website.

CCIWA estimates businesses lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of the lockdown between January 31 and February 5.

CCIWA’s COVID-19 site has up-to-date information about the pandemic’s impacts on WA business.

For help navigating COVID-19 restrictions contact the Employee Relations Advice Centre on (08) 9365 7660, or via [email protected].