CALL FOR MORE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman says Labor is listening to the requests for more assistance for small businesses to recover from the bushfires.

Labor has called on the Morrison Government to do more for struggling small businesses in bushfire affected areas by offering a targeted program of wage assistance for employers.

“We’re asking the Government to allow businesses directly and indirectly affected by the crisis, to access wage assistance similar to the response provided by the previous Labor Federal Government in response to cyclones in 2011,” Ms Templeman said.

“The feedback I have been giving to our team, alongside my colleagues Mike Kelly and Fiona Phillips, who are also in bushfire effected areas, is that businesses are still finding it difficult to get on top of cash flow in the wake of the bushfire crisis.

“While tourism is slowly improving, it’s patchy. Most tourism-reliant businesses and retail outlets are telling me things are still really tough.

“Labor is calling for wage assistance, more financial counselling and a voucher scheme so accredited accountants can help small businesses access recovery grants and loans.

“The wave assistance initiatives were rolled out in 2011 in response to Cyclone Yasi, so we know they work.”

The previous scheme saw wage assistance provided to North Queensland businesses of up to 26 weeks at the NewStart rate.

Labor has also called on the Morrison Government to set up a Prime Minister’s Business Taskforce, as was created after the 2011 Queensland floods and brought together 10 eminent businesspeople