Tasmanian businesses and workers feel utterly let down and are doing it tough in the fallout of the Gutwein Government’s failure to prepare for the impact of opening the state’s borders to Coronavirus.
With Tourism and Hospitality Minister Sarah Courtney in France, Labor Leader Rebecca White said Labor had this week travelled the state talking to businesses and workers and, after a business roundtable in Hobart today, it was clear the government had not thoroughly considered the effect of the border reopening on small business.
“Labor has heard first hand and continually that businesses are down in their trade, some by up to 50 per cent, because of the drop in consumer confidence,” Ms White said.
“During this new wave of COVID they have been doing all they can to adapt, but it continues to be a big struggle.
“The business community is convinced the Gutwein Government has lost touch with reality.”
Shadow Treasurer Shane Broad said the plain fact was the Gutwein Government had not prepared and had scrambled at the last minute to come up with a business support package that was inadequate as well as cumbersome and contained nothing for employees who had lost work and were now struggling to pay the basics.
“The government has in fact added to the stress by forcing business to jump through hoops and presenting them with a mountain of red tape,” Dr Broad said.
“Grants of up to $5,000 are not enough and the paperwork is such that many businesses are not even bothering to apply.
“Businesses want to see better planning and communication from the government rather than a crisis management approach. If the government is not prepared to act and prepared to listen – particularly with the Minister missing in action – Labor will and we will take that feedback to government and push them to do more.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
