Program update
From 1 July 2022, changes to the Biz Secure program will better support businesses undertaking security improvements to protect against break-ins more effectively.
Key changes to the program include:
- an increase in funding from $10,000 to $15,000 for businesses to make a range of permanent security improvements to their facilities and, depending on the types of works, a reduction in the co-contribution from 50:50 to 25:75 (Business:Government)
- a list of pre-approved standard improvements that can be funded without the need for a security audit
- the scope of works has been expanded to now include some internal crime preventive works such as bolstering alcohol storage security
- the Re-secure Program, administered by Victims of Crime NT, will be updated and payments will increase from $750 per incident to $1,000 per incident for the remainder of 2022.
Changes to both the Biz Secure and Re-Secure programs come into effect on 1 July 2022.
What is the Biz Secure Grant?
From our direct source https://bizsecure.nt.gov.au/ it can be understood that the biz secure grant is the NT government attempt to reduce the amount of break ins to businesses. Territory businesses through using this grant are able to make a range of permanent security improvements to better protect themselves against break-ins using Territory enterprises. Individual businesses may be eligible for up to $15,000 to make a range of permanent security improvements to their premises.
The cost of the security audit is covered by the program (up to $2,000 for individual businesses and up to $7,000 for a cluster of businesses). Once the security audit has been completed, you will be able to seek quotes from a registered security supplier and apply for a voucher to carry out the work. The co-contribution eligible works with a security audit for individual businesses and cluster applications is 50:50.
Standard improvement works
To enable businesses to carry out physical security improvement jobs more quickly, there is now a list of pre-approved standard improvements that can be funded without the need for a security audit.
If you are eligible, the following standard improvement works do not require a security audit:
- access door repairs
- access door replacement with heavy-duty, secure alternatives
- lock works and hardware
- security screens
- window replacement with more secure alternatives
- glass replacement with secure alternatives
- lockable fencing.
If you are only intending to carry out standard improvement works, seek a quote from a registered security supplier and apply for a voucher to carry out the works.
The co-contribution for standard improvement works for individual businesses and cluster applications is 25:75 (business:government).
The cost of the security audit is covered by the program (up to $2,000 for individual businesses and up to $7,000 for a cluster of businesses). Once the security audit has been completed, you will be able to seek quotes from a registered security supplier and apply for a voucher to carry out the work. The co-contribution eligible works with a security audit for individual businesses and cluster applications is 50:50.
Step 1: Apply
A business wanting to make security improvements to their premises to better protect themselves against the risk of break-ins submits their application online through the Biz Secure program – apply to receive a voucher now.
Step 2: Audit
If the business is approved to access the program, they will have a mandatory, independent security audit on the business premises by a registered security audit contractor. The costs of the security audit is covered by the program ($2,000 for individual businesses and up to $7,000 for a cluster of businesses).
Step 3: Seek Quotes
Once the security audit has been completed, the business will be able to seek quotes from a registered security supplier and apply for a voucher to carry out eligible security improvement works.
Step 4: Obtain Voucher
- For individual business applicants, up to $15,000 will be available as on a dollar-for-dollar co-contribution basis toward the cost of eligible works.
- For cluster business applicants, up to $50,000 will be available on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis to make improvements based on the security audit.
In line with the above, the NT Government will provide a voucher to the business receiving the security improvements.
Step 5: Payment
Once the job is done, the supplier doing the work receives the voucher as part or full payment. If applicable, the business receiving the work pays the balance.
The supplier that has done the work redeems the voucher from the NT Government.
Who can apply?
To apply you must:
- be a Territory Enterprise (either a for-profit or not-for-profit business)
- be a legal entity (including a sole trader or partnership) trading under a business name registered in the Northern Territory (NT) that held and continues to hold a valid Australian business number (ABN)
- be physically located in the NT
- operate from commercial premises
- offer services to customers from a shopfront premises or have at least one external publicly accessible entry/exit point
- offer goods and/or services to the public
- have no more than 100 employees
- be incorporated/registered
- hold a valid ABN
- if a not-for-profit organisation, be compliant and up-to-date with all legal obligations.
- Businesses that don’t operate from a fixed premises (for example, mobile businesses)
- Publicly listed companies
- Home based businesses or businesses operating from residential premises
- Large shopping centres
- Government and local government bodies, businesses and organisations
- Educational institutions, schools and businesses/organisations operating out of educational institution/school grounds, including pre-schools
Call We Fix IT and let us help walk you through the process. We are here to answer any questions and provide quotations to help your plans move forwards. Complete the online application form if you are an individual business or if you are a cluster of businesses. If you are approved for eligible works, a voucher will be issued to either carry out standard improvement works (see below) or a security audit.
- The cost of the security audit is covered by the program (up to $2,000 for individual businesses and up to $7,000 for a cluster of businesses).
- Once the security audit has been completed, you will be able to seek quotes from a registered security supplier and apply for a voucher to carry out the works.
- For individual business applicants, up to $15,000 will be available as on a dollar-for-dollar co-contribution basis toward the cost of eligible works.
- For cluster business applicants, up to $50,000 will be available on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis to make improvements based on the security audit.
- The NT Government will provide a voucher to the business receiving the security improvements.
PLEASE NOTE: information provided within this article has been obtained from https://bizsecure.nt.gov.au/ to ensure all information is current as of 14/02/2022 and accurate We Fix IT have chosen to not summarize or alerted the given information.
