Government support programs
  • Last updated:
  • 09 Nov 2020

Emergency business hotlines

  • Federal Government Business Hotline - 13 28 46
  • Queensland Business Hotline - 1300 654 687 
  • Australian Taxation Office Emergency Hotline - 1800 806 218
  • Centrelink Hotline - 13 74 68

Stay informed

Download the Coronavirus Australia app.

  • The Coronavirus business support line is available between 8am-8pm, seven days a week. The number to call is 13 28 46.

  • Australian Business Continuity online resource centre provides access to free business services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit provides updates to government on crucial issues.

  • The Continuing your Business Guide is designed to keep your business operating. View the guide here.

  • Coronavirus marketing kit for peak bodies and industry associations.

  • Visit the Australian Government business website for more information and support.

  • JobTrainer -  training for school leavers and job seekers that will help them develop new skills in growing job sectors.

  • JobKeeper - subsidy for businesses affected by COVID-19. This payment has been extended to 28 March 2021.

  • Export Market Development Grants - financial help program for aspiring and current exporters.

Economic stimulus package

Start here first

  • Call for advice - local teams are ready to talk you through the support and services on offer – call 1300 654 687 to find out more.

  • Business assistance finder - Use the Queensland Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Assistance Finder to learn what support you may be eligible for. Current Queensland Government financial support information can be found on the Business Queensland website business.qld.gov.au or by calling the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687.

  • Complete the online survey to help the government understand the impact of COVID-19 on your business and assess what support you need.

  • Read the Queensland Government support package overview.

  • Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning has compiled a useful factsheet of assistance[520KB] available to you from far and wide.

Additional support

  • Take advantage of free business training - Through the Queensland Small Business Skills Hub small business owners, startups and their staff now have a great opportunity to access over 500 highly relevant online courses, ranging from a few minutes to an hour, for FREE until December 2020. To access the free courses, eligible small business owners with an ABN registered in Queensland and a team of 20 or less staff can register here. 

  • Approved COVID Safe Industry Plans - Any business or organisation that is in one of these industries is welcome to download and follow their approved COVID Safe Industry Plan and complete the Statement of Compliance to demonstrate you are undertaking best practice as a COVID Safe Business. From noon 3 July 2020, if the COVID Safe Business Framework applies to your industry or business you are required to operate in accordance with it.

  • Free online training for small businesses and employees which includes, Digital Skills and Adapting to Change. More information. 

  • $2.5 billion for a series of measures including payroll tax relief; a worker displacement program; electricity bill rebates for eligible small and medium sized businesses; liquor licensing fee waiver; and assistance to support large businesses scale up when economic activity improves.

  • $200 credit on water and electricity for all 2.1 million households to offset the cost of water and electricity.

  • $400 million in land tax relief and payment deferrals for commercial and residential property owners. Apply here.

  • Queensland job seekers can register their details, skills and location via the Jobs Finder Queensland portal and access free online training. An online portal jobsfinder.qld.gov.au is available to connect Queenslanders who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 with new job opportunities.

  • Temporary use licence applications - Temporary use licences allow the holder to change or vary existing development approval conditions or other operating constraints. An example of this may be to vary the hours of construction to ensure that social distancing compliance among workers does not slow progress. The temporary use licence will not remove the need to obtain any other approvals that might be required by local, state and/or Commonwealth jurisdictions. Applicants can download the new form here. The application form must be returned to the Department’s TUL email address.

  • Small business financial counselling services - The Rural Financial Counselling Service has been expanded to support any small business impacted by COVID-19 and is funded by grants from government to local organisations that employ financial counsellors. Any small business impacted by COVID-19 can now contact the Small Business Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland on (07) 4622 5500. 

  • Job support loans - Register your interest to access the new $500 million loan facility. This is interest free for the first 12 months to support Queensland businesses impacted by COVID-19 retain employees and maintain their operations. This concessional loan facility will comprise low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff. Send your full name, phone number and email address to register your interest or call 1800 623 946. This is now closed and applications are being processed.

  • Mentoring sessions - mentors are available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning. Register at the website.

  • Financial workshops - workshops will be delivered to support a place-based approach for small businesses. Register here. 

  • Rent relief -  for small businesses who rent premises from the Queensland Government. A new online rental hub covid19.qld.gov.au/the-hub has information and resources to help tenants, property owners and agents.

  • Queensland legal practitioners able to use video conferencing technology to conduct a range of transactions that usually require face-to-face meetings. The making of documents such as wills, general powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney, advance health directives, statutory declarations, deeds and many other types of documents are also available under the modified arrangements.Visit Business Queensland for further small business support.

  • Small business adaption grant program - apply for grants aimed at small and micro businesses. Up to $10,000 in funding available per eligible business. 

  • The Queensland Government is extending support for tourism operators conducting commercial activities in national parks under its Immediate Recovery Package.

Economic Resurgence Plan

The focus of all economic intervention and support outlined in the Sunshine Coast Council Economic Resurgence Plan is to stimulate economic activity in the Sunshine Coast over the next 12-18 months. The actions in the plan aim to return the regional economy to the level of economic growth experienced in 2019/2020. View the plan[2254KB]. 

Business Support Package #3

The Sunshine Coast Incentive Assistance Program (SCIAP) is a component of the Sunshine Coast Council Economic Resurgence Plan.

There are five broad areas of support under SCIAP:

  1. Fee incentive of up to 25% on the cost of an eligible development application.
  2. Deferment/staged payment of infrastructure charges.
  3. Financial incentives under the Sunshine Coast Investment Incentive Scheme (SCIIS).
  4. Sunshine Coast Infill Development Incentive - Caloundra/Nambour CBD.
  5. Non-financial incentives - Business Response Group (senior council officers) provide assistance; two free pre-lodgement meetings; priority assessment and other support (e.g. connection and referrals to other regulators).

Download the program.

Business Support Package #2

  • Professional Advice Support Program - offering access to professional business advice from local accounting, legal and human resources firms, to assist local businesses make critical decisions about their operations and their future. This service provides a free initial consultation to businesses that employ up to 19 staff and have a turnover of less than $5 million. Access the program. 
  • Information resources - helping businesses transition to operating in this new environment by linking them with local online service providers, video conferencing and IT specialists and providing useful resources. View the resources. 
  • Business signage - business signage will be available to support businesses that have to alter their service arrangements such as providing takeaway/delivery signs outside cafes and restaurants and advice to customers on how to access online services. Download signage. 
  • Community and commercial lease relief – community and commercial lessees of council properties will be eligible for a rent waiver from March 1 to June 30. Council will contact eligible groups.
  • Capital works – up to $3 million in capital works projects will be brought forward to support local jobs and to keep money circulating in the local economy. These works will be on council facilities that have been temporarily closed. Details of projects will be released in the coming weeks.

Rates Update

March 30 - Council will be communicating with everyone who has outstanding rates that, if they are experiencing financial difficulty, council will work with them to make a suitable arrangement that takes into account their circumstances. Council will also not be charging interest on outstanding rate payments and will not be pursuing outstanding rates at this time. To support some of our most vulnerable community members and those experiencing homelessness, council is working with the State Government and local community groups, including accommodation providers, to help provide support.

Business Support Package #1

March 23
  • Permits - For event operators with approved permits and current applications through Sunshine Coast Council, permit fees will be credited for up to 12 months, please liaise with your community land permit contact. More information on local government support.
  • Bringing forward works to support industry - On March 24 we announced that as part of its efforts to keep money circulating in the local economy and work flowing for the construction and related industries, council will be accelerating programmed maintenance and other works in a number of its facilities while they are closed as a result of complying with public health directions. Council would look to bring forward scheduled works at council facilities such as Venue 114, The Events Centre, Caloundra and Sunshine Coast Stadium. Council is also currently reviewing its Capital Works Program to identify opportunities to bring forward approved and budgeted projects, as a further measure to support the local economy and businesses. More information. 
  • Review to fees and charges - council will contact affected businesses to discuss the following additional support measures and the reviewed fees and charges:
    • Dedicated staff to assess temporary use permits
    • Additional staff focused on building and plumbing approvals to ensure continuity of work/approvals
    • Representations made to the State Government on kitchens/liquor licensing and Federal Government on stimulus to support sole suppliers
    • Relaxation of curfews in relation to deliveries of essential items to supermarkets/pharmacies
    • Footpath/outdoor dining and trading permit fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to July 31)
    • Food licensing fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to August 31)
    • Community event and major event permit fees (reimbursement/refunds from March 1 to June 30 or ability to postpone for 12 months and bond refunded until new date set)
    • Commercial low-use/high-use permits (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to June 31)
    • Filming application fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to June 30)
    • Venue hire (bookings) - refunds and waiver of normal cancellation fees at all Council venues from March 16 to June 30
    • Staged payment of Infrastructure Charges for Development Approvals - The first payment can be deferred between 6-9 months and subsequent payments made every six months over 2-3 years.  No interest will be applied to staged payment agreements entered into from now until the 1 July 2020. Any development where the property will remain under the applicant’s ownership for the life of the staged payments will qualify. Hence, this will exclude reconfiguring a lot approvals and developments that are subject to strata/community title subdivision. Payment of any existing Infrastructure Charge that is overdue can be deferred until 1 July 2020. For further information please email us.
    • Parking warnings instead of infringements in general unless the infringement relates to health and safety issues or parking in disabled parking spaces.
    • Paid parking waiver for Caloundra from March 31 to June 30.

Our immediate support

March 18 - Expediting payments - Sunshine Coast Council will be injecting up to $15 million per month earlier into the local economy by expediting payments to local contractors in a bid to improve cash flow and stem the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that have undertaken work for council are urged to submit their invoices for receipting, processing and payment as soon as possible and preferably within seven days. Our finance team will do everything it can to expedite the processing of payments and will target paying the invoices within seven days, provided all of the information has been provided, and the goods have been received or the services delivered within contractual arrangements. Find out more. 

Ongoing business support

  • Wellbeing support - Business owners and employees can log in to the free B-Well and Prosper portal available via the council's website to provide mental wellbeing support during this difficult time. For further support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. It is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Funding finder - Businesses can also log on to Sunshine Coast Funding Finder to see what grants are available to support you.
  • Free online courses - Many businesses are having to change the way they do business, with more outlets going online, using video for meetings and offering delivery. If you or your employees want to update your online skills you can access a free online course - Level Up.

Contact us

Anyone needing to contact council should ideally call 5475 7272 or consider using one of the many convenient online options including MyCouncil, Web Chat, the Call Back service, or email us at mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Council’s Economic Development Branch is here to support businesses during this challenging period, please contact our business support officers.

Signage for Street Performers

Signage has been developed which will assist buskers and street performers to advise the public that they accept cashless payment. Download a copy of the sign [24KB].