Page 2617 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021
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there is no fraud by those trying to take advantage of the system. Of course fraud is a concern, but the question remains as to what preparation was done before lockdown to prepare for what was obviously going to be a system to provide government support to business during this time?
Many business owners tell me that being accused of being frauds is deeply, deeply hurtful and it erodes any trust they have that their government has their back. The vast majority of businesses will, and do, do the right thing. The vast majority of businesses are in critical need of support. They were already struggling when the Sydney outbreak severely impacted trade in the territory. They needed the reassurance of support as soon as we were plunged into lockdown. They needed support when the support scheme was announced. They needed support when they submitted their applications. And they needed support when the lockdown extension was announced earlier this week.
This morning the Chief Minister delivered his ministerial statement and confirmed that as at yesterday 7,558 applications for business support had been received; 3,471 had been assessed and 1,325 approved—1,325 out of 7,558 applications. That means 17½ per cent of businesses that are in desperate need of support have been approved, leaving over 80 per cent of businesses wondering when they will ever hear from this government about this critically needed support.
This is an improvement on the woefully inadequate 6.7 per cent of businesses that received support in the first two weeks of the scheme, but it still leaves the vast majority of businesses crying out desperately for help. The more concerning figure, though, as I said this morning, is that only a staggering 38 per cent of applications of the number of applications assessed—not submitted—have actually been approved. More than 60 per cent—more than 60 per cent—of applications that have been assessed have not been approved. This is staggering and is just downright cruel.
I note that Treasurer Frydenberg, Senator Seselja and the Chief Minister jointly announced further support for businesses yesterday afternoon, including further support for those struggling in the tourism, accommodation, events, hospitality and the arts sectors, and this is welcome to many Canberra businesses in this category.
Moving on from the unacceptable delays and problems that have plagued the ACT government support schemes, the business community need a clear plan forward. So many had pinned their hopes on getting this from the Chief Minister on Tuesday this week, and they are rightfully frustrated, disappointed and angry that they got nothing that gave them the ability to hope, to plan, to look forward. As one business owner told me only this morning:
We need a plan forward, especially into Christmas. November and December are traditionally our biggest revenue of the year. At this stage, it is difficult to plan for stock, staffing, et cetera, when we might still be in lockdown.
Another business owner sent me this message:
The absence of clarity is hard to justify. In the lead up to Christmas, the busiest time of year for many businesses, the lack of clarity on whether, when, what
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