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SPORT
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Covid jabs in hot demand
Calls for support By Danielle Kutchel, Shelby Brooks and Tyler Lewis
Shoheli outside House of Burgers in Berwick. 239342 certificate holders and $20 million for event operators. On Wednesday 2 June with the announcement that lockdown would be extended for metropolitan Melbourne by another seven days, the Victorian Government offered further support. “Building on the $250.7 million support package announced last Sunday, a new allocation of up to $209.3 million will flow to small and medium-sized businesses, taking the total support package to $460 million,” a statement released by the government read. “Business Costs Assistance Program grants of $2500 for eligible businesses directly affected by the industry restrictions, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommo-
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dation providers and non-essential retailers, will be doubled to $5000 for eligible businesses in metropolitan Melbourne. “Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund grants of $3500 for businesses holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate will be doubled to $7000 for eligible businesses in metropolitan Melbourne.” Applications for the grants are scheduled to open on Thursday 3 June and will be open until 11.59pm on Thursday 24 June. Businesses will only need to fill in one application. Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas encouraged businesses that needed support to contact Business Victoria on 13 22 15 regarding their application. “With the many businesses who received
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Deciding to start a new business venture in 2021 seemed like a safe undertaking, yet only 10 days after Shoheli Sunjida took over House of Burgers in Berwick, the state was plunged into another lockdown. Ms Sunjida and her husband only began trading from Tuesday 18 May but had several big bookings for the weekend that had to be cancelled with a day’s notice on Thursday 27 May following the seven-day lockdown announcement. She described it as just bad luck and a learning experience, deciding to keep the business open for takeaway. “We felt we had to keep it open for takeaway for the employees to get some work,” she said. “In the food industry, if we’re not selling we can’t employ staff.” Over the weekend of May 29 and 30, Ms Sunjida estimated business was down 60 per cent. Karen, owner and manager of Cafe Cibo in Cranbourne provided an insight on the lockdown for small businesses and how now – sadly – business owners are adjusting to lockdowns as if they’re the norm. “We have adjusted to it,” she said. “Since the last lockdown we started a free delivery app for the area we live in. “It was automatic that we go into lockdown; it is a bit disappointing, you’re on your tippy toes all the time. “Once you get a bit of gossip, as a business owner I kind of set myself that it’s going to be happening,” Karen said. On Sunday 30 May, the State Government announced a $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package which is expected to help to 90,000 Victorian businesses that have been affected by the new restrictions. The package was to include $190 million in $2500 grants for businesses, $40.7 million in $3500 grants for liquor licence and food
payments last time, the process will be faster this time as contact and other needed details are known,” he explained. “There is also support available through a $450 test isolation payment, relief packages, food packages, extreme hardship support program, and utility relief grants. People can contact the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.” Similarly, Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards said the package would provide “essential support” for local businesses, which she described as “the heart and soul of this community”. “Their resilience has been extraordinary during this most difficult year,” she said. But Dale Munckton, president of the Narre Warren Business Group, said local businesses were feeling the pressure of the state’s fourth lockdown even with the announced financial assistance. “This lockdown again puts extreme pressure on the local business community, many who are just starting to get back on their feet from last year,” he said. “With this extended lockdown it is critical that businesses see additional support from the Federal Government urgently on top of the financial support already announced by the State Government.” Speaking before the announcement of the second package, Callen O’Brien, treasurer of Berwick Business Group (BBG) said there was uncertainty around eligibility for the State Government’s relief programs While he said any support was useful, he added that many businesses don’t know enough about the packages yet. “There’s one for licenced venues…and there’s one for other businesses but there’s actually no definition around it at the moment and there’s more information to come,” he said. He said many hospitality businesses around Berwick had not opened for takeaway this time because it wouldn’t yield them enough to pay the bills.