Melbourne, Australia lock down

[Squire Robertsson]

 

[Gold Dragon]

Those small businesses that don't qualify for the latest Victorian government support package during lockdown because they make too little have a legitimate complaint.

If Ella's small business made more money, she'd be eligible for lockdown grants. Instead, she gets nothing

The Victorian government announced a $250 million business support package three days into the current lockdown, and a further $209 million when that was extended for another seven days.

But people such as gym owner Ella Mason do not make the cut because their turnover is not high enough.

Ms Mason has run the Pony Club Gym at Preston in Melbourne's north for two years but for nearly half that time, it has been closed.

To be eligible for the grants, businesses need to pay GST, but registering to pay the tax is only necessary once you earn over $75,000.

The minister of Tourism has promised some funding but it might end up being a jurisdictional hot potato between state and federal government which would be bad for those small businesses.

Minister for Tourism Martin Pakula said those businesses that have slipped through the threshold cracks may be eligible for an upcoming federal assistance program.

"Our understanding [is] there will be a degree of support along the same lines and with the same parameters as have been put in place for income support for casual workers who fill that criteria,” Mr Pakula said on Saturday.

"Those under the GST threshold … which are mainly home-based businesses, were supported last year by JobKeeper and our discussions with the Commonwealth over the past 24 hours leads us to believe they will also be assisted by the Commonwealth program that's being put in place."

 

[just-want-peace]

I certainly don't know squat about Aussie politics, BUT, this scenario sounds just like the current admin of the US of A;
IOW , liberal screw-ups!!