COVID-19
Information for Australian businesses involved in trade
The Export Council of Australia (ECA) is collecting information and resources to help Australian businesses involved in trade prepare for and mitigate any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on business.
This page will be updated as more information and resources become available.
Last updated: 30 March 2020
Government updates and support packages
Border Agencies
- Australian Border Force letter in response to the questions they've received relating to changes to goods prohibited for export (26 March 2020)
- Department of Home Affairs COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
State Governments
- Australian Government updates
The latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- As part of the collective response to combat COVID-19, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore are committed to maintaining open and connected supply chains (25
March 2020)
Prime Minister's office
- Updates from the Australian Prime Minister on the COVID-19 measures
- COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package for Australian Businesses
Find out how to access this financial assistance, eligibility requirements and relevant timings
Austrade
- Austrade updates - Latest insights from Austrade’s global network
Other Government updates
- Department of Agriculture and Water and the Environment Import Industry Advice Notice (27 March 2020)
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Plant Export Industry advise industry of disruptions to plant export services as a result of measures being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 (25 March 2020)
Freight and logistics updates
- Australian Logistics Council COVID-19 Supply Chain Update (26 March 2020)
- Queensland border restrictions (26 March 2020)
- The Australian Government’s Transport and Infrastructure Council has confirmed the high-priority it places on the freight and logistics sector and their commitment to ensuring Australians have the supplies they need during this difficult time (25 March 2020)
- COVID-19 Impact to Freight (25 March 2020)
- Queensland Ports update (23 March 2020)
Export Council of Australia updates
- A statement from the ECA on the recent emergency meeting of the G20 re COVID-19 (30 March 2020)
- COVID-19 Checklist for businesses – To help make sense of all the information disseminated on what businesses should do in a time of crisis, we’ve compiled this checklist of the 10 best points of advice we’ve seen from across the world.
- 'Don't wait' for help: Dianne Tipping, Chair, ECA interviewed for ABC news (26 March)
- COVID-19 effects on global trade by Dianne Tipping, Chair, ECA (2 March 2020)
Additional resources
- Helpline for businesses impacted by COVID-19 Business hotline 13 28 46
- World Health Organisation (WTO) updates
- John Hopkins COVID-19 live interactive map
- Federal Government launches Coronavirus Australia app and WhatsApp feature (29 March 2020)
- Business.gov.au
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Department of Health
We recognise that the COVID-19 outbreak can be a distressing time for many. The following organisations offer services free of charge:
- Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)
- Lifeline (13 11 14)
- Head to Health
- Headspace (for those aged 18 to 25 years)