Daniel Andrews on Friday announced a $200 million top-up extension to the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and Business Costs Assistance Program business support grants announced in June.

Automatic payments are scheduled to be made to eligible businesses and sole traders over the course of the next week to “minimise delays” and “swiftly get money into the pockets of businesses that need it most”.

Some 90,000 businesses that received payments through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and Business Costs Assistance Program packages in early June will receive new support payments of $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

Those eligible include restaurants, cafés, bars, event suppliers, tourism and accommodation providers, and non-essential retailers.

Victoria to receive Commonwealth-partnered support 

The $200 million state package is set to be accompanied by income support payments for Victorians across the state, after the Andrews government announced that it had reached an agreement with the Commonwealth to offer support from day one of lockdown.

Workers affected by the state’s public health order are eligible for the same payments offered to those in New South Wales. Those who have lost 20 hours of work a week, or more, will be eligible for payments of $600, while those who have lost between eight and 20 hours of work will receive $375.

Mr Morrison urged eligible businesses and individuals who have lost hours at work to apply for support via the government’s myGov portal once the first week of lockdown draws to a close.

“That is the fastest and most helpful way to do it … it reduces the amount of processing time and makes sure we can get more people more quickly,” Mr Morrison said. “I welcome the announcement today by the Premier of Victoria, which is seeing them invest some $1 million in their five-day lockdown. We hope that is all that is.”