Lucky Bat cafe owner Danny Crichton anxious about stimulus cash flow while Gunner reveals reason behind hold-up

TWO-thirds of NT businesses ‘not filling in stimulus paperwork properly’, as cafe owner says new $20 million lifeline will help though cash must flow now

THE Territory Government’s $20 million lifeline for workers not covered by the Federal Government’s massive JobKeeper payment will allow cafe owner Danny Crichton to rehire essential staff.

The Lucky Bat owner had to let go of casuals and temporary visa holders due to the coronavirus crisis.

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Mr Crichton welcomed the second tranche of the government stimulus, which covers more casuals and visa holders, and said he was mostly grateful his Nightcliff business had been able to adapt quickly to remain open.

Lucky Bat cafe owner Danny Crichton says the NT Government's plan to fill the Federal Government's $130bn JobKeeper payment gaps is a great idea, but he applied for the survival fund and has heard nothing. He is anxious about when the money will flow. Picture: Che Chorley

But he fears he may not be able to keep any employees on because he’s yet to receive money from the Small Business Survival Fund, despite applying for it soon after it opened.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed money from the stimulus package was flowing but it was being held up by incomplete paperwork submitted by two-thirds of applicants.

He said businesses were not revealing their annual turnover and how many full-time employees they had.

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