Lack of support for small business a national embarrassment, says Opposition

The opposition has labelled the Palaszczuk Government’s lack of small business support a “national embarrassment”, after tens of thousands of businesses lost trade as a result of the snap lockdown.

• Townsville lockdown: Restrictions to remains in place for two weeks
• Double standards: Market holders ordered to isolate while airport staff return to work

THE state opposition has labelled the Palaszczuk government’s lack of small business support a “national embarrassment”, after tens of thousands of businesses lost trade as a result of the snap lockdown.

The LNP said the Premier did not offer any assistance or hope to small and family businesses who “right now are disposing of thousands of dollars in stock and bookings” and called on the government to implement a support package.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said small and family business owners and their staff “desperately needed certainty”.

He suggested lump lockdown payments for small businesses to cover less of income due to lockdowns, a deep cleaning rebate to cover deep cleaning fees if a businesses is identified as a Covid-19 exposure venue and event cancellation rebates to cover the financial loss if an event is cancelled due to a lockdown.

“If a decision is taken on health grounds, it can’t be for one sector of the community to bear the brunt of the financial pain,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Opposition Small Business spokesman Brent Mickelberg said small and family businesses needed confidence.

“The state government has abandoned them in their hour of need,” he said.

Originally published as Lack of support for small business a national embarrassment, says Opposition