Confusion over Covid grants hurting business

BUSINESSES affected by the latest lockdown are eligible for grants from the state government to help ease the economic strain – but confusion over who is eligible and why is still an issue for local shops.

John Charleson, owner of The Bottle-O and chair of Swan Hill Inc., and Rose Pepers, owner of Quamby Car K.W.A.P & Coffee, have identified a range of problems with the latest grant requirements which affect not only their own businesses, but the region generally.

“As far as small businesses go, from what I’ve heard, there’s been confusion over who is eligible for funding or not,” Mr Charleson said of Covid grants and supplements.

“And if they are eligible, the time and manner in which the money flows through – it’s a real problem.”

Mr Charleson said he was concerned that over the last 18 months, even though there were some industries which were keeping afloat during the Covid crisis, the smaller businesses and sole traders within those industries were doing it tough.

“They might fall outside the boundaries of government grants, government help,” he said.

“So that’s a real issue for those small businesses, even in the city.”

Speaking from the view of the chair of Swan Hill Inc. Mr Charleson said the support of locals has been one of the key ways the district’s economy has survived.

“Some sectors such as supermarkets, and areas of retail, automotive, and even liquor to an extent, have proven to be more insulated [from lockdown effects], but that’s due to the townspeople, the great support that locals are giving locals,” he said.

The state government has introduced a Circuit Breaker Business Support Package for small businesses, which includes $379.4 million for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two (with top-up payments only for metropolitan Melbourne).

For regional businesses, they may be able to qualify for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund, or a Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two Tourism Supplement.

There are travel vouchers for tourists, but only a specific tourism package (the Alpine Support Program) for businesses in alpine resorts and the town of Dinner Plain.

Ms Pepers’ coffee shop has been closed multiple times during lockdown, and she was shocked and disappointed to find she wouldn’t qualify for a Covid support grant during the latest restrictions because Quambatook isn’t considered a hot spot.

“My shop is a hub in the community – I went to apply for a micro grant and there were two questions,” Ms Pepers said.

“The first was if you live in a hot spot, I said no.

“The other was if you were restricted from opening due to coronavirus, I said yes.

“But because I wasn’t in a hot spot the second question was redundant – the thing is, the state government has said they will be looking into supporting all small businesses and well, no, you’re not.”

Ms Pepers said that because she doesn’t rent her business off a commercial property, it has also affected her ability to get grants.

“The whole system is wrong – I would like to see politicians swap jobs with me, just for a day,” she said.

“I want them to comprehend what it’s like.

“I understand why we need to lockdown – but for a small business in a rural town, we need to look out for each other.”

During the first lockdown Ms Pepers ordered in wholesale products through her shop so people in Quambatook didn’t have to go without essentials such as canned goods.

Socially as well as economically, her shop also is a meeting place for people, especially senior citizens.

“I have a gentleman in his eighties who loves to come in and have his coffee every day, and I don’t see these people as customers, I see them as family,” she said.

Ms Pepers has reached out to politicians such as Anne Webster (Member for Mallee) and Peter Walsh (Member for Murray Plains) for more clarity on Covid grant eligibility, and whether changes can be made.

The other issue for towns in the region, and for businesses like Mr Charleson’s, are lockdowns affecting the sporting calendar.

The state government has a $20 million for the Victorian Events Support Package, but the damage has already been done for places such as Swan Hill.

“The June racing carnival being cancelled, especially in winter, was a huge blow, and to every part of the town – accommodation, hospitality, tourism services,” Mr Charleson said.

“It’s the same as earlier in the year with Tennis Victoria Country Week, the cancellation of that.

“So that’s two of our events which would have filled our whole town for a weekend, which gives a massive income boost, just gone.”

Mr Charleson said he wasn’t sure if the football season would be able to continue at present either.

However there is some positive news, with Tennis Victoria Country Week returning to Swan Hill next year.

And due to the efforts of Swan Hill Inc., the Swan Hill Rural City Council and Swan Hill Tennis Club, in January there will be the Seniors Tennis Australia event happening over a fortnight.