The Victorian Government has lifted restrictions after its 5-day 'circuit breaker' lockdown.

From 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February, Victoria returned to most of the rules previously in place. For businesses this means: 
  • The 5km limit on travel will be lifted
  • Masks will be required indoors and outdoors where people cannot socially distance
  • Retail and hospitality will return to the same density rules that previously applied
  • Sport and recreation activities can resume again, with density quotas in place
  • Funerals and weddings will have no limits on numbers but need to meet the venue’s density limits indoors and outdoors
  • Public and private sector can return to 50 percent capacity
In addition to this, a new $143 million Circuit Breaker Support Package has just been announced by the state government to help more than 50,000 Victorian businesses – including restaurants, florists, confectioners, hairdressers, accommodation providers, musicians and performers – who incurred costs such as the loss of perishable goods, cancelled gigs and foregone trading. The package includes $10 million to expand the successful Regional Travel Voucher Scheme to include a new Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme, offering 40,000 vouchers for $200 for travel in greater Melbourne, and an additional 10,000 vouchers to support travel in regional Victoria. Find out more on the support package here

Council acknowledges that this has been a difficult period for all and we will continue to support the local business community as they navigate the weeks ahead. In this edition, we offer opportunities to upskill, resources to tap into and workshops to participate in.  


Additionally, If you would like to contact Council's Economic Development team, call 1300 179 944 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au


We would like to thank all the businesses who took part in Kids Local Passport competition. While the competition has come to a close participating businesses will continue to hand out remaining passports to any little visitors that come through the door whilst stock lasts.

Here are our winners and the businesses they supported:

Ruby, age 6, picked up her passport at Clip n’ Climb in Williamstown and had lots of fun colouring in some of her favourite Hobsons Bay sights.

Audrey, age 3, loves pizza and picked up her passport at La Porchetta in Altona Meadows.   

Ed, age 5, and his sisters collected their passports from Elle & Stuart in Altona and were blown away with the friendly service. 

Stevie, age 19 months, had a go at colouring in her passport from the newly opened Ichi Sushi in Altona and loves that they are open early so she can pick up her favourite sushi rolls.  

The second JobKeeper extension has started. It covers the JobKeeper fortnights between Monday 4 January and Sunday 28 March 2021.

You might be eligible for JobKeeper extension 2 even if you weren’t eligible for extension 1.

To qualify, you need to show that your actual GST turnover declined in the December 2020 quarter relative to a 'comparable period'. This is generally the December 2019 quarter.

For more information, visit the Australian Taxation Office website.

From 1 January 2021 the law relating to employees and their choice of superannuation fund has changed.

New workplace determinations and enterprise agreements made on or after this date must now offer employees the right to choose the super fund to which you pay their compulsory super contributions. 

For more information on how these changes may affect your business visit the Australian Taxation Office website.

Date: Thursday 25 February
Time: 10am – 11.30am
Location: Zoom
Cost: Free
To register: click here

Join us for the inaugural meeting of the Hobsons Bay Young People in Business Network (YPiBN).

The aim of this event is to enhance the relationships between local like-minded young business owners and strengthen connections with local organisations and Hobsons Bay City Council staff. 

This network is open to young people under 30 from any industry who own, manage, or are looking to begin a business in Hobsons Bay. 

For more details contact the Economic Development and Social Policy Team on 1300 179 944 or at business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. 

Due to the economic effects Covid-19 has had on the Victorian economy, Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) is offering their Digital Solutions workshops to eligible traders for free. These sessions are designed to give business the knowledge they need to adapt to online trading, digital marketing and how they to get the most out of social media. 

To get more information on the following workshops and to register, use the links displayed below: 

Digital Marketing Essentials
Facebook for Business Simplified 
Boost Business with Facebook Advertising
Social Media Marketing 101
Simple steps to build your website