Pallas takes aim at the Commonwealth over business support

“But I want to stress this point and it really is a point of great disappointment to the state government: We are going to step up and play our part in assisting this industry bit we are very, very unhappy that the Commonwealth government broke with its practice of co-funding business support packages in Victoria and refused to contribute to this industry,” Mr Pallas said.

“It is incomprehensive why this industry has been singled out for particular, and might I say, unfair treatment by this government.

“And the Federal government of course have taken this stance for reasons that cannot really be understood. After all, these are in large measure small business operators who have been impacted because of lockdown orders.

“We have announced already that both governments, state and federal, up until this point are continuing our existing business support packages for the next six weeks, or until having hits the 80 per cent double-dosed target.

“But the Commonwealth explicitly refused to pay for the construction sector.

“And it is beyond reason or comprehension why this industry, which will struggle of course as a consequence of the challenges that they have had to confront over the last few weeks, are not getting the support that they would otherwise expect.

“The construction grants would have been doubled if the Commonwealth government had not refused to contribute to the Victorian construction industry, and therefore broke its well-established principle of co-funding business support packages with us on a 50:50 basis across the country.

“So, to those businesses who are a bit aggrieved about the fact that they find these payments less than they would see as being appropriate in the circumstances, can I assure you that the state government is far from happy about the fact that the Commonwealth is not maintaining the principle of cooperation and co-payment through this process.

“And I do make the point that this is despite the fact that the Commonwealth funded a similar program to support construction businesses in NSW.”