“It’s still very early days, but its very encouraging that we’re not suddenly seeing [disputes] escalate to more than we were finding pre-COVID,” Ms O’Connell said.

The commissioner said she was very pleased with the operation of the relief scheme, and the role her office had played during the pandemic in keeping businesses from going broke.

“When our case officers talk to some tenants, they say that without rent relief, without that support, they would have gone under, that there was no way they would have been able to pay that rent” Ms O’Connell said.

“I think that’s been a terrific win for small businesses.”

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Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said he was not surprised by the figures from the Small Business Commission, saying that much of the economy was coming back strongly with most businesses ready to survive without government support.

”Businesses don’t want to survive on government handouts and businesses don’t stand still,” he said.

“We saw businesses adapt to the pandemic and now we’re seeing businesses adapt to the recovery.”

Ms O’Connell, who will retire in July, said on Tuesday that over her four-year tenure she had worked hard to raise the profile of the commission, and the supports that it offered, and to advocate for the mental health of small business owners.

“If you’re trying to run a business and deal with mental health, it’s a real issue,” Ms O’Connell said.

“We’ve done a lot of proactive work, making sure that small businesses are supported to be mentally healthy.”

If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 131 114.