Wednesday, 15 September 2021

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (11:05): I would like to take this opportunity to update the house on how government is supporting landlords that are waiving rent for businesses during the pandemic, offering grants to those who are doing the right thing to assist our small businesses to trade through these challenging times.

As of yesterday the $20 million Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund is open for applications from small landlords that are reducing or waiving rent as part of the commercial tenancy relief scheme, which I have previously provided updates to the house on. Eligible commercial landlords that waive rent for their tenants between 28 July 2021 and 15 January 2022 can apply for grants of up to $6000 per tenancy. In cases of acute hardship, small landlords may be eligible for grants of up to $10 000 per tenancy. To be eligible for a grant, landlords must provide a rent waiver of at least 50 per cent to their tenants through the commercial tenancy relief scheme, have total taxable landholdings under $3 million and use the grant to offset the waiver. Landlords will be eligible for the fund only if they have waived some of the rent owed. They will not be eligible if they have deferred all the rent.

The government will also be providing land tax relief of up to 25 per cent to landlords waiving rent for their tenants, at an estimated cost of $100 million. To ensure owner-occupier businesses are also supported, businesses that own their own premises may also be eligible for the 25 per cent reduction on the property’s 2021 land tax. This is in addition to any previous 2021 land tax relief. All eligible landlords will also be able to defer any remaining 2020 and 2021 land tax until 31 May 2022.

In updating the house on these arrangements, I would again take the opportunity to thank commercial landlords, which have played a very important role and will continue to play a very important role in supporting small businesses in these uncertain and unprecedented times.