Gary's Speeches

Bushfires - Small Business Support

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"I wish to raise a matter for the Minister for Small Business. The action I seek is for the minister to provide urgent assistance to businesses in bushfire-affected areas of my electorate that are suffering enormously because of the downturn in activity following the fires. These are business that were not directly impacted by the fires. They were not burnt out and did not suffer any loss of tools or infrastructure. These are not the farmers who lost kilometres of fencing and shedding, fodder, pasture and equipment, who also must be given help. I am talking about businesses that rely on the farming sector and tourism, particularly hospitality and accommodation, and that provide goods and services to small communities. They are the general stores, the hotels, the bed-and-breakfast establishments, the restaurants, the butchers, the bakers and the petrol stations. "

"This is the small business sector that relies on the spending of local families in their communities and also on the passing trade of tourists and visitors to their area. "

"Business activity in this sector has suffered an enormous downturn. Tourism-related enterprises have come to a standstill. A survey of 84 businesses in Baw Baw shire completed last week indicated that spending had dropped off by $1.9 million over the last month. That represents a downturn of 75 per cent for each of those businesses. I certainly welcome the joint federal-state government initiative providing a $51 million assistance package for those businesses directly impacted by the fires. However, there are many small businesses that will not meet the criteria to qualify for assistance under that program. They are currently having their applications for assistance declined. Many of these hardworking businesspeople suffered the same problem after the 2006 fires. "

"Measures were put in place then to assist tourism in areas like Erica, Rawson and Walhalla to encourage visitors back to the region. "

"On this occasion the problem is much worse and far more widespread. It is affecting businesspeople in Jindivick, Neerim South, Noojee, Warragul, Drouin, Erica, Rawson, Walhalla, Bona Vista, Nilma, Yarragon, Darnum and Trafalgar, to name just a few. This time assistance in the form of tourism advertising will not be enough to save many of these small businesses. We are finding that bookings for accommodation are being cancelled. At Rawson bookings worth $200 000 over the next three to four months have been cancelled. Facilities that accommodate regular school camps and group bookings have been extremely hard hit. All of these cancellations have an impact right across the small business sector in these areas. These businesses need government assistance to cover their costs at least over the next few months and to help cover the cost of overheads such as repayments on bank loans. "

"I call on the Minister for Small Business to take immediate action to broaden the eligibility criteria for small business assistance under the federal-state government's $51 million assistance package so that these businesses can receive the urgent help they desperately need. "