❓ Mrs. Clarke asks about the WA government's support for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Minister outlines support services, financial packages, and urges public support for businesses, especially in tourism.
AnsweredQoN 166Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
SMALL BUSINESS — GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
166. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Small Business:
I refer to the state government's
response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on WA small businesses.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the government is ensuring that WA's
small businesses have access to advice and support services they need to manage
the impacts of COVID-19?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what other action this government is taking to
support small businesses during this uncertain time, in particular WA's
tourism operators?
SMALL BUSINESS — GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
166. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Small Business:
I refer to the state government's
response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on WA small businesses.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the government is ensuring that WA's
small businesses have access to advice and support services they need to manage
the impacts of COVID-19?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what other action this government is taking to
support small businesses during this uncertain time, in particular WA's
tourism operators?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question.
I understand that she has experience of small business and, like myself,
probably knows about the particular vulnerabilities associated with having a mortgage
being a key part of how a person establishes and operates their business, and
their home being on the line and the vulnerability that is experienced from the
vagaries around income streams that are entirely derived from that business to
fund not only a mortgage but their life.
(1) Right now, we
in the government know that there are thousands of small businesses across the
state that are really doing it tough. They are confronting enormous challenges.
It is tough at the best of times, and right now we are confronting, as we have
heard many times today, an experience the likes of which probably no-one will
see in their lifetime or certainly have not seen in their lifetime to date. One
thing, therefore, that is a challenge for small businesses is wading through all
the available information that they are confronted with in order to find where
they might find assistance—what they are eligible for and the like.
They are, in effect, suffering from information overload. To address that
challenge, the government has asked the Small Business Development Corporation
to create a dedicated assistance unit. This will be an opportunity for small
businesses to go to the SBDC website or to make a call to seek specific advice
that has been compiled by SBDC staff to give them an easy-to-understand guide
on what they might be eligible for from the very large federal package and the
enormous $670 million package announced by the state. There are a whole range
of opportunities for assistance to small businesses from both those packages,
and the SBDC has gone through and assessed them and provided an easy ready
reckoner for each of those, and, of course, guides to more detailed information
from the appropriate sites at both a state and federal level. Also, they will
be staffing a hotline. During working hours, there will be an opportunity for
small businesses to call and seek personal advice from people in the SBDC. They
provide an incredible service on normal
occasions, but they are shifting towards providing COVID-19 advice. That is what
a large amount of their efforts will be from now until as long as
necessary. Therefore, I urge small businesses that are seeking further
information to either call 133 140 to speak to somebody and seek out additional
assistance on not only what they might be eligible for and how to access those
support services or opportunities, but also advice about operating a small
business in this incredibly tough time. There is also, of course, the website
smallbusiness.wa.gov.au, which I urge people to visit. It has a blog post on a much
easier to navigate assessment of what people may be eligible for out of the
federal package and the state package. It is a great service. We are stepping
it up and I urge people to seek assistance if they need it.
(2) The member also
asked about what else we are doing. Obviously, I think the one sector that has,
probably beyond all others, got a lot of attention and that people are aware of
how difficult they are doing it is the hospitality and tourism sector. I understand
there are concerns amongst the community; some concerns have been aired around
the state with respect to the threat from COVID-19 and attending places like
hospitality outlets. What I would say is: right now the government, the
Premier, is part of the national cabinet. The cabinet is taking advice from the
Chief Medical Officer of Australia, and the best informed advice in the country
is being provided and distributed and acted upon. Right now, it is safe for
people to go to small businesses; in fact, they need it more than ever. We need
Western Australians to support Western Australian small businesses right across
the state. Hospitality outlets—cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, tour
operators—are all doing it tough, confronting the toughest environment
that they have ever seen. If we abandon them now, they will have nothing else.
International holiday-makers are not coming; interstate is confronting the
shutting down of airlines as we speak. All we have is ourselves and supporting
each other. Right now, it is safe and people should support fellow Western Australians.
We will tell people if that changes. If that advice changes, of course we will
advise people. But, right now, people can go to small businesses, cafes, bars
and hotels. Get out to the regions and support regional small businesses
because they need it right now.
I understand that she has experience of small business and, like myself,
probably knows about the particular vulnerabilities associated with having a mortgage
being a key part of how a person establishes and operates their business, and
their home being on the line and the vulnerability that is experienced from the
vagaries around income streams that are entirely derived from that business to
fund not only a mortgage but their life.
(1) Right now, we
in the government know that there are thousands of small businesses across the
state that are really doing it tough. They are confronting enormous challenges.
It is tough at the best of times, and right now we are confronting, as we have
heard many times today, an experience the likes of which probably no-one will
see in their lifetime or certainly have not seen in their lifetime to date. One
thing, therefore, that is a challenge for small businesses is wading through all
the available information that they are confronted with in order to find where
they might find assistance—what they are eligible for and the like.
They are, in effect, suffering from information overload. To address that
challenge, the government has asked the Small Business Development Corporation
to create a dedicated assistance unit. This will be an opportunity for small
businesses to go to the SBDC website or to make a call to seek specific advice
that has been compiled by SBDC staff to give them an easy-to-understand guide
on what they might be eligible for from the very large federal package and the
enormous $670 million package announced by the state. There are a whole range
of opportunities for assistance to small businesses from both those packages,
and the SBDC has gone through and assessed them and provided an easy ready
reckoner for each of those, and, of course, guides to more detailed information
from the appropriate sites at both a state and federal level. Also, they will
be staffing a hotline. During working hours, there will be an opportunity for
small businesses to call and seek personal advice from people in the SBDC. They
provide an incredible service on normal
occasions, but they are shifting towards providing COVID-19 advice. That is what
a large amount of their efforts will be from now until as long as
necessary. Therefore, I urge small businesses that are seeking further
information to either call 133 140 to speak to somebody and seek out additional
assistance on not only what they might be eligible for and how to access those
support services or opportunities, but also advice about operating a small
business in this incredibly tough time. There is also, of course, the website
smallbusiness.wa.gov.au, which I urge people to visit. It has a blog post on a much
easier to navigate assessment of what people may be eligible for out of the
federal package and the state package. It is a great service. We are stepping
it up and I urge people to seek assistance if they need it.
(2) The member also
asked about what else we are doing. Obviously, I think the one sector that has,
probably beyond all others, got a lot of attention and that people are aware of
how difficult they are doing it is the hospitality and tourism sector. I understand
there are concerns amongst the community; some concerns have been aired around
the state with respect to the threat from COVID-19 and attending places like
hospitality outlets. What I would say is: right now the government, the
Premier, is part of the national cabinet. The cabinet is taking advice from the
Chief Medical Officer of Australia, and the best informed advice in the country
is being provided and distributed and acted upon. Right now, it is safe for
people to go to small businesses; in fact, they need it more than ever. We need
Western Australians to support Western Australian small businesses right across
the state. Hospitality outlets—cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, tour
operators—are all doing it tough, confronting the toughest environment
that they have ever seen. If we abandon them now, they will have nothing else.
International holiday-makers are not coming; interstate is confronting the
shutting down of airlines as we speak. All we have is ourselves and supporting
each other. Right now, it is safe and people should support fellow Western Australians.
We will tell people if that changes. If that advice changes, of course we will
advise people. But, right now, people can go to small businesses, cafes, bars
and hotels. Get out to the regions and support regional small businesses
because they need it right now.
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