With a clear pathway out of lockdown for the ACT now released, the Canberra Liberals are calling for clarity on how businesses will be supported along the way.
According to the ACT’s Pathway Forward, from 1 October, non-essential retail will be able to administer click-and-collect and click-and-deliver services with up to five people on the premises.
Outdoor boot camps, personal training and coaching will also be able to recommence with no more than two people excluding staff.
Then, from 15 October, licensed venues, cafes, and restaurants will be reopen to a maximum capacity of 25 patrons across a venue or one patron per four square metres indoors if the total number is 25 or less.
Hairdressers and beauty and personal services, gyms, and accommodation providers will also reopen with capacity restrictions.
Come 29 October, density limits will relax to one person per two square metres while retail stores open their doors, as do cinemas, galleries and museums.
Ticketed and seated events will also recommence.
Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee said she has heard from small business owners curious to know how the financial support in place for businesses will be administered throughout October, specifically when lockdown officially ends on 15 October.
“Some businesses may technically be allowed to recommence operations but will be severely hampered by the capacity restrictions; so much so that for many businesses it will not be financially viable to open,” Ms Lee said.
“Ongoing restrictions place enormous pressure on businesses; in particular the hospitality sector who will only be allowed one customer per four square metres. This is a restriction which the Australian Hotels Association (ACT) has long stated was unworkable for the majority of hospitality businesses.”
Ms Lee said she has written to Chief Minister Andrew Barr to seek clarity on what financial support will remain in place for businesses significantly affected by the ongoing public health restrictions beyond 15 October.
“We need to ensure these businesses are given the support they need until the restrictions this government is placing on them are lifted sufficiently to enable them to recommence their operations in a financially viable way.”
The joint Commonwealth and ACT Government ACT COVID-19 Business Support Grants have run since lockdown commenced on 12 August.
Financing the package has been split on a 50/50 basis between bothgovernments, with the Territory government administering the program.
Chair of the Inner-South Business Council, John-Paul Romano, previously told Canberra Daily more financial support will be needed after lockdown ends.
“Funding can’t end when the lockdown ends,” Mr Romano said earlier this month. “It has to continue until we’re back at full capacity plus a couple of weeks.”
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