❓ Mrs. Harvey asks the Premier to consider waiving electricity and water connection charges for small businesses in hibernation due to COVID-19. The Premier responds by highlighting the $2,500 credit offered to small businesses and payroll tax waivers.
AnsweredQoN 220Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — UTILITY CHARGES —
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
220. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I thank the Premier for his response. Similar to Western Australian
households, there are small businesses that are in hibernation mode at the
moment. Will the Premier consider waiving electricity and water connection
charges for those businesses that are now not using the electricity and water
system?
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
220. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I thank the Premier for his response. Similar to Western Australian
households, there are small businesses that are in hibernation mode at the
moment. Will the Premier consider waiving electricity and water connection
charges for those businesses that are now not using the electricity and water
system?
AnswerView source ↗
We announced on Tuesday a $2 500 credit for 95 000 small
businesses across Western Australia. As I understand it—I might be
wrong—we are the only state government that has done that. So we have
managed to provide some benefit to small businesses, which no other state or
territory government has done, by the use of the publicly owned Synergy and
Horizon Power. We are doing our best. I was at a cafe this morning and I talked
to the owner of the cafe. To be honest, he was thrilled with the payroll tax
waiver, because he was caught by the payroll tax net, and he was thrilled with
the electricity waiver on his tariffs; I think it is called the L1 tariff. That
measure also applies to charities, so charities will receive that $2 500
credit. While I am here, obviously, the Lotterywest arrangements we are putting
in place will assist lots of families and, indeed, small businesses that may
well suffer. Just because someone ran a small business does not mean that in
the current circumstances they may not need some emergency relief, particularly
if their business stops operating.
businesses across Western Australia. As I understand it—I might be
wrong—we are the only state government that has done that. So we have
managed to provide some benefit to small businesses, which no other state or
territory government has done, by the use of the publicly owned Synergy and
Horizon Power. We are doing our best. I was at a cafe this morning and I talked
to the owner of the cafe. To be honest, he was thrilled with the payroll tax
waiver, because he was caught by the payroll tax net, and he was thrilled with
the electricity waiver on his tariffs; I think it is called the L1 tariff. That
measure also applies to charities, so charities will receive that $2 500
credit. While I am here, obviously, the Lotterywest arrangements we are putting
in place will assist lots of families and, indeed, small businesses that may
well suffer. Just because someone ran a small business does not mean that in
the current circumstances they may not need some emergency relief, particularly
if their business stops operating.
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