Small businesses appeal for relief from NT Government in “toughest year ever”

SMALL hospitality businesses have called for the Territory Government to reinstate two key support packages as they brace for their “toughest year ever”.

SMALL hospitality businesses have called for the Territory Government to reinstate two key support packages as they brace for their “toughest year ever”.

The Covid pandemic has changed the landscape of the NT but with less people going out to buy a coffee and less travelling from interstate many a small business has taken a hit.

And now with many facing possible collapse the businesses have banded together to call for the return of the Small Business Survival Fund and the Business Hardship Package.

Those packages were put in place to assist small businesses at the start of the global pandemic in 2020 but have not yet returned despite the NT facing the Covid outbreak directly.

Watertank Cafe owner Nicole Jervis penned a letter to Chief Minister Michael Gunner on behalf of Alice Springs hospitality venues to return the packages.

“It’s dire. There’s no other word for it. 2021 was tough as it was with no visitors and now we’ve opened the door in 2022 it’s even worse,” Ms Jervis said.

“The start of the pandemic in 2020 was fine, we had all those support packs and there was a real community rally behind supporting local.

“They aren’t there anymore. No one wants to go anywhere and no one knows what they’re doing because the rules are changing all the time.

“It’s going to be a tough year. Our toughest year ever. We’re really feeling it down here. The job saver program is one we particularly need, we need our employees.”

Sapphire publicans Mary Reynosa and Lusiano Saia are frustrated with the lack of government support for hospitality. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Matters are no different in the Top End with Darwin and Palmerston businesses coming together to call for those initiatives as well as rent relief to see change before it was too late.

“We’ve gathered likeminded business owners because we’ve supported the mandate but we’re not getting the support back from government,” said Sapphire Bar and Grill owner Mary Reynosa.

“We’re on the brink. Every night it’s about how we will trade the next day? How are we going to survive the next week? We don’t know.

“We need support. It’s been a struggle. This is the worst I have seen the Darwin CBD. It is worse than in 2020 but in 2020 we had federal support and we don’t now which doesn’t add up.”

Opposition Small Business spokeswoman Marie-Clare Boothby supported the calls for those intiatives that had aided small businesses at the start of the pandemic.

“The reality is that businesses are doing it tougher than at any time during this pandemic and there are several options within the packages to assist,” Ms Boothby said.

“Territory businesses have been crippled by Covid and every day that support is withheld is a day closer to that business shutting its doors for good.”

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles said the Territory Government were in regular conversations to find the best ways to support NT businesses.

“We’ve provided a number of support programs throughout the pandemic and we certainly acknowledge the uncertainty facing businesses is very difficult,” Ms Fyles said.

“On Monday we announced the MyTerritory vouchers particularly aimed at our local small retail and hospitality businesses encouraging Territorians to get out.

“We work regularly with the business, tourism and hospitality peak bodies listening to the concerns and looking for ideas so we can provide support and drive every dollar to where it’s best needed.”

MyDarwin, MyAlice vouchers to return

A POPULAR vouchers scheme is returning to the Territory, bringing a much needed spending boost to retail and hospitality venues, but there are concerns the lifeline will not be enough to save struggling businesses.

The time-tested MyDarwin and MyAlice voucher scheme will be available from late February, with up to $1m to be outlaid between the NT government, City of Darwin and Alice Springs Town Council.

The announcement comes following one of the Territory’s worst trade seasons on record as of result of Covid-related border restrictions and dashed consumer confidence.

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Natasha Fyles said the voucher scheme would drive more shoppers to more local businesses.

“Once again, we’re calling on Territorians to register and buy from a store with a door, to keep supporting local and keep our economy ticking over,” she said.

“As we head into 2022, we need to keep backing local to keep fuelling our economic comeback, and rebounding from Covid-19.”

In Alice Springs, a group of hospitality businesses have banded together, writing to the NT government with a plea for more targeted financial support.

Group leader Nicole Jervis, owner of three local food and beverage businesses, said since supports like JobKeeper and JobSeeker and the NT’s business hardship packages dried up, many small and medium businesses have been left on the brink of closure.

“A lot of mandates were coming in and out and changing week to week, which we all felt,” she told the ABC on Monday.

“Every time there was a change it had a direct line impact on everyone’s revenue, so you’d be seeing a 90 per cent drop in revenue for at least two weeks as soon as one change is made.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the voucher schemes were a “popular program in the past” and would be a lifeline particularly for cafes.

“This is a good measure by the council and the Territory government,” Mr Bruce said.

But the head of Hospitality NT, which represents nightclubs, bars, restaurants and cafes, said further measures were needed at the Territory and federal levels. Mr Bruce said consumer confidence had been “shredded” by the Omicron wave, with people opting to stay home rather than dine and drink out.

In what has been described as a “shadow lockdown”, some consumers are choosing not to go out despite no lockdowns being in place in the Territory’s major centres.

Mr Bruce has criticised the government for imposing what he says are “inconsistent” and “difficult to follow” health directions that leave consumers confused.

Around the country, state and territory governments have begun stepping in with support packages for businesses, including a $1 billion package announced by the NSW government on Sunday, which the state will fund alone after the commonwealth declined to contribute.

Originally published as Small businesses appeal for relief from NT Government in “toughest year ever”