Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Categories

Posted: 2021-05-30 02:05:28

The Victorian government has announced a $250 million support package for 90,000 businesses affected by the seven-day COVID-19 lockdown — the first since JobKeeper was wound back.

There are currently 49 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria and the state has been in lockdown since Friday.

Yesterday, five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Victoria, including a worker at the Arcare Maidstone aged care facility in Melbourne's west.

This morning, Acting Premier James Merlino announced a Victorian government support package for small to medium-sized businesses and sole traders.

Under the scheme, grants of $2,500 will be available for eligible businesses, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommodation venues and non-essential retailers.

Hospitality venues with a liquor licence and food certificate will be eligible for a $3,500 grant per premises.

Mr Merlino also flagged $20 million to support operators in the event industry, saying more details would be provided on that shortly.

He said the support package would help businesses "pay the bills and maintain their workforce as best they can".

"This is a bigger and broader package than the one that we delivered through the lockdown, the circuit-breaker lockdown, back in February."

'Angry and disappointed'

Chairs leaning up against a table at an outdoor cafe.
Victoria's Acting Premier James Merlino says the financial support package is a "bigger and broader" package than what was delivered in February.(

ABC News: Patrick Rocca

)

Mr Merlino and Treasurer Tim Pallas also used this morning's announcement to slam the federal government over what they said was a lack of support, saying "Victorian workers deserve more".

"We asked multiple times [for] the federal government to support workers during this period, and the unrelenting answer has been no," Mr Merlino said.

"For the Prime Minister and the federal Treasurer to say 'no' is a disgrace and it should make every Victorian angry."

Treasurer Tim Pallas went further, saying he would "not be as reserved in his language" as the Premier.

"What we needed was the Commonwealth to make at least a comparable offer of support to working people," he said.

"Empathy means nothing unless your words are matched by tangibles.

Mr Pallas said the Commonwealth had agreed not to tax the payments the Victorian government would be offering to businesses.

Three empty escalators and two empty staircases in a train station.
Treasurer Tim Pallas asked the federal government not to "turn your back on Victorian people in their hour of need".

First lockdown since JobKeeper wound back

Victoria's seven-day lockdown is the first since the federal government's JobKeeper support subsidy was wound back.

Appearing on Insiders on Sunday, federal Liberal MP Dan Tehan advice to Victorian workers who had lost their income during the lockdown to "go to Centrelink".

But Mr Pallas urged Victorians not to listen to the federal Trade Minister, saying they would likely not be eligible for the wage support measures he referenced.

Earlier today, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) criticised the federal government for winding back JobKeeper supports "too soon".

The ACTU estimated more than 500,000 casual workers in Victoria would be facing uncertainty during this week's lockdown.

"The Morrison government bears direct responsibility for the failures in quarantine and vaccine rollout which led to this lockdown," ACTU president Michele O'Neil said.

"They have made a bad situation worse by withdrawing JobKeeper too soon, and refusing to now put in place JobKeeper 2 targeted at the workers and businesses who desperately need it."

In a statement, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry praised the state government for its support measures, but also called on the federal government to follow suit.

"When Australians needed support in 2020, both state and federal governments were there. Now is not the time for the feds to abandon Victorians," chief executive Paul Guerra said.

"As we know, COVID-19 crosses borders and so should support for business and workers.

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above