The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath is calling on Labor to provide desperately needed small business support in response to COVID-19.
Ms Bath raised the issue in State Parliament yesterday, highlighting the support packages being offered by the Federal Government and all other states.
“The Victorian State Government is so far refusing to help relieve the pain being experienced by small business and it is unfathomable that it has not occurred,” said Ms Bath.
“Small Business Victoria – the State Government’s own department – states ‘small businesses are the heart of Victoria’s rapidly evolving economy.’
“I am calling on Daniel Andrews and his Minister for Small Business to stop ignoring the heart of our Victorian economy and immediately roll out a support package, just as every other state and territory in Australia has.”
Ms Bath said her electoral office has continued to field inquiries from small business owners who are incredibly stressed about their future and that of their staff.
“Statistics show for every 100 businesses in Victoria, 98 are small businesses,” Ms Bath said.
“It is incredibly important for the state government to proactively minimise the impact of COVID-19 on Victoria’s economy and support our small businesses at this unprecedented time.
“It’s time for Andrews to follow the lead of other states and step up with a Victorian small business support package to ensure businesses can survive.”
