Business will be with you for bushfires rebuild, says Peter Cosgrove

Former governor-general Peter Cosgrove has told bushfire-affected communities he will ‘stand ­beside as you rebuild’.

Former governor-general Peter Cosgrove. Picture: Kym Smith

Former governor-general Peter Cosgrove has told bushfire-­affected communities he will “stand ­beside you as you rebuild” as he began consultations in his role as chair of a business-led recovery effort.

Corporate figures met mayors and small-business owners at Parliament House on Wednesday as the BizRebuild initiative tries to bolster economic activity.

BizRebuild is a five-year recovery and rebuilding fund. Sir Peter told the roundtable that if small businesses don’t survive, “we don’t believe your communities will ­remain viable … We resolve to stand beside you as you rebuild your communities, whether it is getting someone a job in the short term (or) getting someone tools so they can start working again. Our job is to get the money and action on the ground as fast as possible”.

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said BizRebuild was “in this for the long haul”. Other members of the BizRebuild advisory committee include former deputy prime minister John Anderson, AFL chairman Richard Goyder and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page.

BCA president Tim Reed said the business lobby’s members had ­donated more than $33m.