SMALL BUSINESS BUSHFIRE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, says she’s concerned the announcement by the Prime Minister about assistance for small businesses will do little to support the bulk of affected Blue Mountains businesses.

“The detail so far of the Prime Minister’s announcement outlines grants of up to $50,000 for businesses ‘that have sustained damage as a result of the fires’,” Ms Templeman said.

“This is welcome for those who have had property damaged by fires, but if it only applies to businesses who have had actual physical damage, it will provide no assistance to the majority of businesses in the Blue Mountains or Hawkesbury.

“What they will have access to is the new concessional loans for businesses that have suffered a significant loss of revenue.

“Many local small businesses have told me that they are reluctant to borrow more money, although under this package of assistance, it might be their only option.

“The impact of the drop in tourism since November – and the consequential loss of casual shifts by workers which means there’s even less money in the local community – has been profound.

“In Katoomba, Leura, Blackheath, Mt Victoria all the way down the Mountains and across to the Bells Line of Road, businesses have told me that things were already tough prior to the fires.

“Now it is a crisis point.

“Some landlords have been lenient with their terms, some suppliers of equipment have waived payments during the peak of the fires, and there are the provisions of the Australian Tax Office to postpone payments until later in the year.

“But all in all, my initial feedback from businesses is that the latest package by the Government may not provide the instant boost businesses were needing, and I look forward to any clarification of the details.

“I certainly would welcome the grants being extended to those who have suffered a serious drop in revenue at what is normally one of the busiest trading periods for the region.

“I will encourage small businesses to access the Financial Support Line the Government is establishing, to see what applies to our local small businesses.”

Ms Templeman, Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle and Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill will host the Blue Mountains Small Business Bushfire Recovery Forum, with the support of BMATA and BMRBC on 29 January 2020 at the Fairmont.

“Every small business from across the Mountains is invited to attend this free event and have their voices heard about what more they need to see from the three levels of governme