Federal government pledges easier access to bushfire aid

Eligible businesses must have had a 40 per cent drop in revenue over a three-month period, compared with the previous year.

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud. Picture: AAP

Bushfire-affected small businesses will be offered $10,000 grants as the federal government promises to make existing loans and other services easier to access.

Eligible businesses must have had a 40 per cent drop in revenue over a three-month period, compared with the previous year.

The states will select which local government areas will be eligible and the money can be used for financial advice, salaries, wages, utilities and fuel.

Following criticism it was taking applicants too long to get loans and grants under the ­Coalition’s $2bn bushfire recovery fund, Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said support programs would be rolled out quicker and 71 more workers would be on hand to help people across 25 areas fill out paperwork: “We are listening and acting to help fire-affected communities while supporting states to roll out recovery programs quicker than they have been.

“We are embedding more staff … in recovery hubs to provide help to access grants, loans and other services: they can assist small business owners to navigate systems, fill in forms, and get support they need.”

Eligibility requirements for existing concessional loans worth up to $50,000 have also been relaxed and simplified, with less documentation needed and sec­urity no longer required. The changes will cost $18.2m.