Government targeted help still required for particular industries

Holly Stearnes – Ticker News

In regards to businesses all over Australia, how do you think they are recovering now? And just in general, do you think they’re starting to rebound now? Are you hearing positive news?

Bill Lang – Small Business Australia

It does vary by the type of industry. And it varies by the location of the business. And it varies by the size of the business. So if I take travel agents, there’s an enormous amount of pain because people are not booking international trips, no longer is JobKeeper available to help some of those businesses go, so that’s an example of one that’s an industry sector that’s really, really hurting.

But there are others in terms of people now travelling locally, or in terms of getting things delivered online from those businesses, some have been going very well.

Right throughout COVID, they’ve been growing. So there’s been some big wins. There’s some people still in a lot of pain, there’s still a need for the government to help those in a lot of pain to get them through. We’ve got to get everyone through to 2022.

Holly Stearnes

Are you saying as much support from the government as you would like as from your perspective?

Bill Lang 

We’d still like to see the Australian and the state governments get together have a direct sort of dollar for dollar, federal government puts in $1, the state government puts in $1 in a very targeted way to help particular businesses in particular industries.

So you know, the group that are hurting are really hurting, and they’re really on their last legs. Many have closed already. So there is more to be done. The federal budget is coming up, but in early May, so hopefully there’ll be some good news there. But we can’t wait around for the budget. We have to get activated now to help those businesses now.