The Town of East Fremantle supports local businesses

18 March 2020 - Government Support for Businesses

Important information regarding Covid-19

The Australian Government has announced a support package (https://business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business) for businesses amid growing concerns regarding COVID-19.  To find out if this applies to your business go to the website or speak to your accountant.

Areas of support include:

• Cash flow payment of up to $25,000 for employers
• 50 per cent wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees
• Increase in the instant asset write off threshold to $150,000
• 50 per cent accelerated depreciation for investments

The WA State Government has also just announced that it will be providing relief for business via its own stimulus package with the following being offered:  

• $607 million stimulus package to support WA households and small businesses in the wake of COVID-19
• $114 million in additional measures to support small businesses
• Small businesses that pay payroll tax will receive a one-off grant of $17,500
• $1 million payroll tax threshold brought forward by six months to July 1, 2020
• Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can defer payroll tax payments until July 21, 2020

Further resources include:  

• The Small Business Development Corporation133 140 offers free and confidential guidance to small businesses and can assist with disruptions to business and is currently developing a series of communications which will be made available on their website - https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus.
• In regards to other measures, they have a series of webinars being delivered on the following:
  • Crisis Communication
  • Creating a risk management plan
  • Seeking expert advice in uncertain times
  • Managing disruption to cash flow and supply chain
  • Crisis management in the workplace
  • Strengthening your business through efficiency
  • Conduct online meetings with Zoom
• The Australian Tax Office will also assist businesses experiencing financial difficulty. This may include tax payment deferrals. To find out more go to: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Dealing-with-disasters/In-detail/Specific-disasters/COVID-19/
• The Western Australia Department of Health is providing information about the health impacts of coronavirus here: https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus

Town of East Fremantle - Small Business Friendly Local Government

The Small Business Friendly Local Governments initiative was developed by the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC).  The SBDC is the only State Government agency focused on supporting small business in Western Australia.

         Read the Town of East Fremantle’s Small Business Friendly Charter 

Our Commitment to Small Business

The Town of East Fremantle recognises that the small business community is an important stakeholder and will;

• undertake regular consultation with this group;
• work towards understanding how its local small business community operates;
• provide networking and other development opportunities for its local small business community; and
• actively engage, where appropriate, with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) on matters affecting small business.

Our Commitment to Customer Service

The Town of East Fremantle will:

• maintain open lines of communication with small businesses through both formal and informal approaches;
• provide clear advice and guidance to small businesses with a focus on assisting them to understand and meet their regulatory obligations, and to work with them to achieve compliance;
• publish a set of clear service standards setting out what small businesses can expect from them;
• consider the needs of local small business owners for whom English is not a first language; and
• publish links on its website to take small business owners to SBDC resources.

Administration

The Town of East Fremantle will:

• take reasonable action to limit unnecessary administrative burdens on small business;
• undertake regular policy reviews to limit their impact on small businesses; view the Town's Purchasing Policy
• test new policies and procedures for ‘small business friendliness’;
• ensure that its Officers have the necessary knowledge and skills to apply plans and regulations in a consistent manner;
• ensure that all invoices from small business suppliers are paid within 30 days; and
• manage any disputes through a simple process.

 Our Commitment to the Small Business Development Corporation

The Town of East Fremantle will:

• provide the SBDC with a biannual progress report;
• forward success stories and case studies to the SBDC in relation to the SBFLG initiative when requested; and
• actively promote its involvement in the campaign.

 Links

Small Business Friendly Projects - the Small Business Friendly Projects initiative minimises the impact of construction on businesses by targeting both those responsible for construction projects; as well as the business owners that could be impacted by these projects.  The Small Business Development Corporation website has guidelines available for State Government, Local Government and Small Business Owners.

Business Licence Finder - identify which licences, permits etc. you need when starting or operating your business, plus any codes of practice you may be required to comply with.

Checklist for Starting a Business - follow the steps to help decide if you are ready to go into business and where to seek help along the way.

FREE Business Listing – East Fremantle ratepayers can list their business on the Town’s online Business List free of charge.

Share your Success Story! - please take the time to share your good news with us so we can share it with others.

Starting Your Own Business - access to Small Business Development Corporation resources.

Contact the Small Business Development Corporation - 133 140

And, your FEEDBACK IS WELCOME! - please let us know what other links you would like to see here.