Canberra businesses were told the ACT Government’s COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme would begin in October – but it turns out the Scheme won’t start until mid-November. Businesses and traders are dismayed, fearing some will not survive that long.

“It’s unacceptable that this Scheme has continued to be pushed back,” said John-Paul Romano, Chairman of the Inner-South Canberra Business Council. “Businesses needed these payments months ago, weeks ago, today; they don’t need it next month. By next month, they’ll be broke already.”

Tom Adam, president of the Phillip Business Community, said small businesses desperately needed these payments.

The Hardship Scheme gives credits of up to $10,000 to eligible small businesses on the cost of eligible fees and charges. The scheme is for small businesses with an annual turnover between $30,000 and $10 million; the businesses must have lost 30 per cent or more of their revenue between the June and September quarters.

ACT Business Minister Tara Cheyne said in August that the Hardship Scheme would open in October. Instead, the government’s online Business Hub states it will open on 15 November.

Canberra Daily asked the ACT Government this morning why the payment had been delayed, but has received no answer.

Leanne Castley MLA, Shadow Minister for Business, accused the government of breaking their promise, and of keeping businesses in the dark about when the Hardship Scheme would be rolled out.

“For well over a month now, the ACT Government business website has been spruiking this scheme will be ‘available in coming weeks’ with the government refusing to provide any real certainty,” Ms Castley said.

“Businesses need this support as quickly as possible, but time and time again the actions of this Labor-Greens Government show they simply do not care about Canberra businesses doing it tough,” Ms Castley said.

From tomorrow, density limits at cafés, restaurants, and pubs will increase, while cinemas, museums, zoos, and entertainment venues will reopen. But Mr Romano called on the ACT Government to continue cash support for businesses.

“Tomorrow’s changes will start to put money back through the till,” Mr Romano acknowledged.

But he likened them to “putting Band-aids on a stab wound”.

“It’ll start to fix the problem, but it’s not stitching it up.” Businesses – particularly those that had been “badly hurt” – would need more help.

Some businesses which can operate have told Mr Romano that they find it difficult to trade profitably with current restrictions.

“Now, of course, those restrictions will ease from Friday; however, the complexity still stands for business.”

Mr Adam called on Chief Minister Andrew Barr to meet the business community to discuss business funding support.

“It continues to disappoint us that this ACT Labor Government haven’t engaged, because it seems they don’t want to know how things are in the real world outside the Legislative Assembly,” he said.

“Small business owners and their staff are people, too. If every life matters to the Chief Minister, then we implore him to see the light.”