How JobKeeper helped Paul Wiedman Electrical survive COVID-19 pandemic

A Toowoomba electrical business was only able to survive because of the JobKeeper program, its owner says.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack (back, left) poses for a photo with (front, from left) Elliott Bruffer business owner Paul Wiedman, Alex Rauchle and (back, right) Groom LNP candidate Garth Hamilton, Monday, November 23, 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A Toowoomba electrician says his business wouldn’t have survived in its pre-COVID-19 capacity if it wasn’t for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program.

Paul Wiedman Electrical employs six tradesmen, two office staff and three apprentices.

“We were able to keep all of our staff on,” owner Paul Wiedman said.

“It was a bit touch and go there for a while, but all of our staff have been secured with full-time positions (because of JobKeeper) through this pandemic.”

The JobKeeper program was unveiled by the Federal Government in March during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It provided eligible employers with a wage subsidy of $1500 per employee.

The program was initially supposed to end in September, but has been extended to March, albeit with a reduced subsidy.

“We know it’s not an everlasting thing, it’s one of those things that going to end soon, so we’ve got a plan in place for that,” Mr Wiedman said about the reduced subsidy.

“But (JobKeeper) was just really good insurance that meant we could keep running as a business.

“We’ve been running for nearly 10 years now, so it’s been a Godsend for us to be able to make sure that all of the staff, and their families were provided for and they didn’t have to go looking for jobs elsewhere, especially in this time.”

Before the pandemic, the business only employed one apprentice, but it was able to hire two more, Elliott Bruffer and Alex Rauchle, because of the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy.

Under that subsidy, eligible small to medium-sized businesses can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of an eligible apprentice or trainee’s wages paid until March 31, 2021.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack visited the Paul Wiedman Electrical workshop in Harristown on Monday during a quick visit to the region to campaign for LNP Groom by-election candidate Garth Hamilton.

“Paul Wiedman is just the sort of person and runs just the sort of business that’s the reason why we put in place these measures,” Mr McCormack said.