Government to expand Covid-19 business support payments with Jobsaver

More businesses impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown are set to get some relief from the state government in the form of the Jobsaver program.

Business support payments will be expanded to bring relief to hospitality, tourism, and recreation industries to save potentially 10,000 jobs.

Businesses with an annual turnover of up to $1 billion will now be eligible for the Jobsaver program, jointly funded by the state and commonwealth governments.

On Wednesday night the changes to the scheme were signed off by the NSW crisis cabinet as they continued to debate loosening restrictions when vaccinated targets were reached.

Under the expanded relief package to be announced on Thursday, payments would be made at 40 per cent of weekly payroll costs.

Businesses with a turnover of between $250 million and $500 million would get up to $300,000 per week if they had experienced a decline in turnover of at least 50 per cent.

Support payments for businesses impacted during lockdown will be expanded. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Businesses with a turnover between $500 million and $1 billion would get up to $500,000 per week if they had seen a 70 per cent turnover drop

Under the road-map being considered by crisis cabinet, Covid restrictions could completely revert to settings in place before the Delta outbreak when NSW reaches 80 per cent double-vaccination rates, .

Senior ministers are considering the plan back to normal, which could include reopening measures to restart the economy when 70 per cent double-dose rates are achieved, likely to be in October.

However, September will only see minimal easing of restrictions, designed to improve “wellbeing” of locked-down residents.

The state government’s crisis cabinet signed off on some freedoms that vaccinated people will be able to do come September.

The minimal freedoms are designed, in part, to ensure people continue following strict lockdown rules – even as NSW reported a record number of 919 new cases.

“This is going to be a journey with the community, we need to maintain those high levels of compliance,” chief health officer Kerry Chant said.

A staged return to school is expected to come from Term Four, though possibly not from day one.

There is concern about Covid incursions in rural and regional NSW, and mobility of people through major regional centres.

A cautious approach is expected, but some areas of the state could come out of lockdown at the end of August if they are not being impacted by Covid.

Ministers hope Christmas will largely be back to normal – unless Covid throws a “curveball” at authorities.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says most people need to get double vaccinated before things open up again. Picture: Getty Images

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly said that when 80 per cent of the population is double-vaccinated, life will return to the settings which were in place before the current outbreak.

Some additional freedoms will be announced for certain vaccinated residents on Thursday, but it is unlikely that there will be any major changes to lockdown rules.

Restaurant and Catering Industry Association boss Wes Lambert said some restrictions on hospitality should be eased in September and then escalate as the state hits 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination rates.

“We would like to see a gradual reopening which begins with some outdoor dining with some indoor that then transitions so it’s not just a light switch from nothing to some heavily restricted environments,” Mr Lambert said.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Committee of Sydney strategic director Ehssan Veiszadeh has pushed the government to make schools its priority, with plans in place for outdoor dining, cafes, restaurants, gyms and clubs.

“Give people a timeline of when they (hospitality and gyms) will be allowed to occur with a vaccine certificate. Outdoor dining is quite low risk with fully vaccinated staff and customers,” Mr Veiszadeh said.

Meanwhile, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has declared his support for the Doherty Institute modelling which allows for some reopening at 80 per cent vaccination coverage.

“I support the national plan. It has proposals at 70 per cent and 80 per cent. It is, as it is written, there is scope there for lockdowns, but targeted if they’re absolutely necessary,” he told the ABC.