The Morrison-McCormack Government has moved to make it easier for bushfire-affected businesses to access assistance.
Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan welcomed the expansion of the $10,000 recovery grant measure to include eligible small businesses that have experienced a 40 per cent drop in revenue as a result of the bushfires. Previously only businesses with direct damage from the fires were eligible to apply.
Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud made the decision on Wednesday and applied it to the Local Government Areas (LGAs) recommended by the NSW Government: Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey and Nambucca Valley in the electorate of Cowper and others.
“We are listening and acting to help fire-affected communities while supporting states to roll out recovery programs quicker than they have been,” Mr Littleproud said.
The newly-launched Bushfire Affected Small Business Rebuild package will help local economies recover faster and simplifies access to current assistance programs by cutting red tape. It includes:
• A new $10,000 grant to assist significantly-impacted small businesses in selected LGAs to get back on their feet and maintain their businesses.
To be eligible, businesses must have experienced a 40 per cent drop in revenue over a three-month period, compared to the previous year, as a result of the bushfires.
• And $12.8 million for business advisory services. An additional 21 business experts are being deployed to recovery hubs to provide small business owners with tailored advice and assistance with applying.
“I have been assured there will be more staff available to assist with and process applications,” Mr Conaghan said.
“The Federal Government is embedding more staff from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency in recovery hubs to provide help to people to access grants, concessional loans, and other services – they can assist small business owners to navigate systems, fill in forms, and get the support they need.
“So the key message is: business owners who applied before but were unsuccessful, your applications will be automatically reassessed. For those small business owners who thought themselves ineligible previously, think again and consider making an application now.”
For more information or to apply call 13 77 88 or visit https://www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/small-business
Media Contact:
Mr Littleproud – Douglas Ferguson 0455 448 985
Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744
