SMEs wait on COVID lockdown business support

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian foreshadowed business support for SMEs during the COVID lockdown in Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour but as yet no announcement has been made.

When the broader Greater Sydney lockdowns were announced last weekend, the Premier said this business support would complement a $500 federal government lockdown payment for those unable to go to work because of the lockdown rules.

“Nobody should feel stressed about their financial situation,” Berejiklian said at the time.

“We will, as a state government in the next few days, be announcing support for businesses. The federal government’s support for households kicks in at a certain time.” the announcement that small business support was coming but the package, at the time of writing, had not been announced.

But at the time of writing this story, no news was yet through on this as Greater Sydney and surrounds enters its third full day of a two-week lockdown. It is understood an announcement is expected later today.

Business support urgently needed

Speaking on the issue of SME support, PVCA President Walter Kuhn said a business support package is “going to be very important” for many printers since JobKeeper is now no longer an option.

But ultimately having more formalised external quarantine and a more effective vaccine strategy was really the only way forward, he said.

“This situation is going to be ongoing until vaccinations are sorted out and some sort of external quarantine is put in place for long-term surety,” Kuhn said.

“The PVCA is here to support our members and as far as lobbying goes, we have spoken to the Federal Government about factors affecting our industry. But our industry, just like others, is in the state it is in because of the pandemic and given the inability of the Federal Government to action a vaccination rollout and quarantine.

“So, as an industry we just have to deal with what we’re handed, which our industry has dealt with very well. We’re an industry that adapts to change through technology, so we’re very resilient in that respect.”

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia has also called for an urgent announcement on support for SMEs.

“The biggest concern with lockdowns is the impact on business cashflow. With no income coming in the door, business owners must still pay ongoing costs like wages, rent, mortgages, and energy bills. Without essential financial assistance, this current lockdown may by the final straw for some businesses,” COSBOA interim CEO Alexi Boyd said in a statement.

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