Page 141 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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Business—disaster recovery
MR WALL (Brindabella) (11.38): I move:
That this Assembly notes:
(1) notes:
(a) the impact on businesses in the ACT in the wake of severe weather events including bushfires in and around the ACT;
(b) businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector have been particularly impacted;
(c) some tourism and hospitality businesses are reporting between a 50 percent and 70 percent loss in revenue compared to the same period over previous years;
(d) hotel providers in Canberra have reported cancellation rates in excess of 35 percent of bookings over the January 2020 period as a direct result of air quality;
(e) several businesses have been forced to cut jobs in the wake of these losses;
(f) that the Commonwealth Government have announced a comprehensive suite of assistance measures, including:
(i) deferral of all BAS payments until May 2020;
(ii) grant funding of up to $50 000 tax free to businesses and organisations that have sustained damage; and
(iii) low interest loans of up to $500 000 interest free for two years;
(g) a $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get tourists travelling across Australia again; and
(h) until the ACT Government enacts the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement with the Commonwealth, the ACT is behind other States and Territories in accessing recovery initiatives; and
(2) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) immediately activate its Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement with the Commonwealth Government so ACT businesses can access the same initiatives that are available over the border;
(b) immediately establish a deferral scheme for commercial rates and payroll tax to ease cash flow pressures after recent significant weather events; and
(c) increase funding at a minimum of $200 000 to Visit Canberra to leverage off the Commonwealth investment in tourism advertising and promote Canberra as a destination.
What a start it has been to the year! There has been a lot said already by members in this place over the last couple of days in relation to the horrific weather and specifically the bushfire events that we have seen not just locally but across our region. That has continued not just in recent weeks; it has extended for some three months and is continuing.
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