GRANTS of up to $3500 will be offered to businesses crash-tackled by the latest State Government-imposed lockdown.
Acting Premier James Merlino announced $250 million in grants would be offered to small to medium-sized businesses as the war of words between Victoria and the Commonwealth over funding support escalated on Sunday.
Mr Merlino attacked the Morrison Government’s “unrelenting answer (of) no” to extra support for businesses after the Commonwealth failed to match the state’s funding package.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas turned up the heat even more, saying the Federal Government was “not a tangible partner” and “need to step up” in supporting businesses during lockdowns after JobKeeper finished in late March.
“What we needed … was the Commonwealth to make a comparable offer … and the self-styled party for workers (to) actually provide assistance for workers,” Mr Pallas said.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper backed the Victorian leaders’ comments, while Member for Mallee Anne Webster said Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack had made an offer of “ongoing assistance” earlier in the day.
“The Commonwealth has provided $40 billion to Victoria alone over the past year,” Dr Webster said.
“This lockdown was imposed by the State Government and it is the right thing for the State Government to be providing support for small businesses.”
MORE: Anne Webster slams ‘crippling’ lockdown of regional centres
However, Ms Cupper said that “everyone needs to be pitching in” to help businesses in this strict seven-day lockdown.
“You have a state government committing a significant money to help the business community and a federal government that hasn’t,” Ms Cupper said on Sunday.
“What the Victorian Government was saying today was reasonable. The Federal Government presumably understands the value of business for our community, so why are they not pitching in too?
“Our business community has been absolutely hammered by these lockdowns. The Federal Government needs to realise this is the business community they are letting down.”
Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien accused the Andrews government of lobbing “verbal hand grenades” to deflect responsibility for the lockdown.
“Attacking the Federal Government doesn’t get Victoria reopened. It doesn’t get Victorians back to work. It doesn’t keep the virus under control,” he said.
The three support measures announced by the State Government on Sunday include a $3500 grant for eligible restaurants, cafes and pubs to help cover the cost of things such as perishable foods.
There will also be $2500 grants for event suppliers, accommodation providers and non-essential retailers who have been affected by the lockdown.
An additional $20 million will be dedicated to supporting operators forced to cancel events, such as the Sesame Street Spectacular in Mildura.
Businesses can register their interest in the business costs assistance program at business.vic.gov.au so they can be notified when applications open this week.
The government says operators eligible for the licensed hospitality venue fund payment will be contacted directly by email in the coming days.
