On 17 March 2020, the Tasmanian government released a $420 million stimulus package with the emphasis on the health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians. These measures are:

HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT

• Emergency relief package: funding will be provided to organisations such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross and Rural Business Tasmania to support vulnerable Tasmanian's impacted by the virus (including those under self-isolation). Government Funding/Tax cuts - $1 million

• Emergency relief payments: one off payments of $250 to eligible individuals (or up to $1,000 for families) required by Public Health to self-isolate as a result of the coronavirus. Eligibility includes those who hold a health care card or a pensioners concession card, and those on low incomes who can demonstrate a need for financial support, including casual workers.

• Emergency accommodation support: will be available for individuals and families who have been placed on home quarantine but are unable to return to their regular place of residence. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $1 million

PRIMARY HEALTH & MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Funding for our primary health care workers (including GPs) to have the resources to provide additional support to look after the community at this critical time. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $2 million

Accommodation support for frontline workers if they need to stay away from home, in circumstances where their family members are ill, so that they can continue to work in a safe way. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $1 million

Mental health programs be provided by community organisations to support individuals experiencing mental health difficulties as a result of the issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $1 million

BUSINESS SUPPORT

• 3-year interest free loans to small businesses with a turnover of less than $5 million in the hospitality, tourism, seafood production, and exports sectors, to purchase equipment or restructuring business operations. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $20 million

• Waiver of payroll tax liabilities for businesses with payrolls of up to $5 million in the hospitality, tourism and seafood industry businesses for the last 4 months of 2019-20.

• Youth employment scheme: provides a payroll tax rebate for 1 year to businesses that employ a young person aged 24 and under, between April and December 2020.

• Funding ($800k) will be provided to the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide Human Resources and Industrial Relations assistance associated with the coronavirus to businesses.

• Targeted Small Business Grants Program: funding for this program has been brought forward which provides a $5,000 grant for businesses that hire an apprentice or trainee in the tourism, hospitality, building and construction, and manufacturing industries.

• Improving small business cash flows: the Tasmanian Government will pay bills sooner (with payment terms reduced from 30 days to 14 days) unless otherwise required by contractual arrangements.

  
  

TARGETED INDUSTRY SUPPORT

• Tourism Industry: waiver of a number of lease, license and parks’ entry fees for tourism operators for April, May and June 2020.

• A 50 % discount on liquor licencing fees and a waiver of all application fees for the calendar year 2020, back dated to 1 January 2020.

• Waiver of annual fees and levies for the rock lobster, giant crab, fin fishers and for abalone divers for 12 months.

• $100,000 will be provided to the Tourism Institute Council Tasmanian and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association for training in the tourism and hospitality sectors over the winter months, to improve productivity and to be ready to bounce back when tourism returns to normal levels.

• Holiday at home campaign: funding for Tourism Tasmania to develop a local holiday campaign to encourage Tasmanian's to support our tourism industry this year. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $1 million

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

• 3-year interest free loans for Local Government to upgrade, renovate and to do necessary maintenance to improve tourism and other assets, to prepare for when visitor numbers bounce back. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $50 million

• Fast tracking maintenance on public buildings over the next 12 months, to support local trades and confidence in local communities. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $50million