From Thursday the Federal Government will make payments of between $350 and $500 to Wollongong and Shellharbour workers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Order in NSW.
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the State Government is also preparing an assistance package which will be announced this week.
But local MPs and the region's peak business body are calling for more to be done.
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Keira MP Ryan Park would like to see small businesses in Wollongong and Shellhabour receive similar funding to what those in Sydney's Northern Beaches received in late 2020. And for it to be extended to Kiama, Shoalhaven and South Coast who will miss out on so much school holiday trade.
"I have written to the Health Minister and Treasurer to to try and get the level of assistance that was available to Northern Beaches small businesses when they went into lockdown. They were one off payment of between $3000 and $5000 to small businesses who experienced financial hardship during the restriction period," he said.
I have written to the Health Minister and Treasurer to try and get the level of assistance that was available to Northern Beaches small businesses.
- Keira MP Ryan Park
Wollongong MP Paul Scully would like to see the Dine & Discover vouchers extended until the end of August.
"The government should be considering extending the eligibility period for Dine & Discover for at least another month and perhaps contemplate whether or not another couple of vouchers might be appropriate."
Kiama MP Gareth Ward has written to the Federal Government and NSW Government ask for a package of support not just for businesses in Wollongong and Shellharbour but those in Kiama, Shoalhaven and South Coast who will be significantly impacted over the next fortnight as well.
Mr Ward said many still haven't recovered from fire, flood and COVID-19 during the last 18 months.
He welcomed the Federal Government's hardship support and said what he would like to see from the State Government is help for all small businesses in the region who are really going to find things tough.
"Because of domestic travel there was a heightened optimism that things were starting to get back on track. But this has blown that out of the water for a lot of small businesses. So I am calling on the State Government to provide a package of support given the extraordinary damage we have had to contend with."
Business Illawarra would also like to see State Government grants for Illawarra businesses impacted by the 14-day Stay at Home Order. Executive director Adam Zarth said one-off hardship payments made available to small businesses on the Northern Beach hit by the December 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns were a big help. He said the new lockdown was already hurting small businesses in the Illawarra, and the pain is set to deepen.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
