SMALL BUSINESSES PLAN THAT CAN BE DONE NOW

January 14, 2020

The bushfire crisis is a national emergency requiring a national response and Labor calls on the government to consider setting up a business taskforce to provide a direct line of advice to government. 

Australian industries, small businesses and their workers are suffering and an appropriate and immediate response is needed.
 
As part of the functions of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, we urge the government to consider the small business responses the Federal and State Governments had in previous disasters such as the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and the 2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone.
 
Consideration should be given to initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s Business Taskforce, created after the 2011 Queensland floods, which brought together 10 eminent business people to provide a direct line of advice to Government.
 
Labor welcomes the engagement with small businesses groups to date on the response, and believes they should be part of such a taskforce.
 
Expertise from small businesses and affected industries will help guide how any future announcements on concessional loans schemes operate, including interactions with insurance, loan security (particularly if a small business owner’s security has been affected), and the intended use of loans such as investment in new capital or refinancing.
 
The Victorian Government’s program of low-interest loans directed to small businesses and tourism and the creation of a Small Business Mentoring Service have been widely cited as important recovery programs following the 2009 Victorian fires.
 
A Business Taskforce can also provide input into other considerations drawn from the Queensland experience which created jobs-skills development officers, community work placements, apprentice training and support, funding for small scale capital works and employment training initiatives, and skills training in priority areas.
 
A Business Taskforce can assist Government in identifying the best ways in which departments can provide Occupational Health and Safety information for employers (including self-employed) on working in smoke hazardous circumstances.
 
And finally businesses will be well placed to advise on what type of data Government should collect and disseminate, particularly as small businesses and industries revise business plans to disaster-affected circumstances.

Labor has urged the Morrison Government to ensure the voices of Australian industries - and particularly small and family businesses - are heard, to mitigate the pain and suffering from the current emergency, and help them rebuild on remain resilient in areas facing a downturn as a result of the disaster.
 
The recovery from the disasters not only impacts those directly impacted, it also indirectly affects many businesses too. 
 
Many small businesses have lost their livelihoods due to devastating bushfires and wonder how they can rebuild. They continue to face economic uncertainty during and after the fires and require immediate and effective support.