Ballarat businesses are trying their best so stay positive mid-way through another COVID lockdown, welcoming news they will be among 90,000 businesses across the state to share in more than $250 million of new state government funding.
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Grants of $2500 will be available to eligible businesses directly affected by the circuit-breaker industry restrictions, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommodation providers and non-essential retailers, while licensed hospitality venues could be eligible for $3500, and operators in the events industry will share in $20 million.
"It's great to see some support for our business community and the recognition that this seven-day shutdown is extremely costly for them," said Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett.
Gigi Milone and her partner Dean Mangion took ownership of the Royal Oak pub in Redan in mid January. In less than six months of trading, they have already experienced two hard lockdowns which have severely dented their trade.
"It's not ideal to say the least," said Ms Milone, who was unable to access JobKeeper support for the pub's staff last time due to them only taking over the business so recently.
While she welcomed the news of the state government support package announced on Sunday, she said the devil would be in the detail.
"It always takes a while to figure out who's eligible. We're just hoping there won't be some little loophole which means we don't get support."
Xtreme Bounce owner Rod James said a $2500 grant would barely cover lost stock across the week-long shutdown and was concerned for his staff, many of them university students, going without wages for a week as well as lost trade for the dozens of local suppliers he deals with.
The trampoline centre had been due to host 32 birthday parties across the weekend, in addition to hundreds of other visitors across the seven days of lockdown.
"I'm not the kind of person to wake up in the night, but I do find I'm waking up in the night and thinking about things you shouldn't be," he said.
Before COVID hit last year Mr James had 46 staff, which dropped back to about 20 when they reopened and now sits at around 35.
"It's a family run business, it's our sole income and we have no income while it's shut down," he said.
Ms Gillett said quite a few business who could have opened over the past three days despite the restrictions had chosen to stay closed.
"Without JobKeeper, takeaway for hospitality venues just doesn't cut it. For retail, the online spend locally just doesn't support their businesses.
"At the same time, our business people are feeling stressed by what's occurring and what's adding to that is that their staff - many of them living week to week - will not be able to pay their bills. Our businesses care for their employees and that's an additional stress.
"Victorian businesses have been hit the hardest, there's no doubt about that, the resilience and the strength they have shown has just been incredible. It would be really good to see the federal government acknowledge that they have been hit harder than any other state."
Ms Gillett was speaking after acting premier James Merlino and treasurer Tim Pallas took an unprecedented swipe at Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg for their lack of support for Victoria during lockdown.
"This (package) support businesses who have been hardest hit by the circuit breaker lockdown. At the same time Victorian workers need support and that's where we needed Canberra to come to the table. I'm very sorry to say they have refused to do that," Mr Merlino said.
"We've asked multiple times for the federal government to support workers during this period and the unrelenting answer has been no.
"Victorian workers deserve more from the federal government and I'm beyond disappointed the answer from the prime minister and treasurer has been no."
Mr Pallas said requests for further support had been made to the Commonwealth Government four or five times over the past three or four days but the answer continued to be no.
"We hear a lot from the federal government about the need for us to work in partnership. We are not a silent partner, they they are not a tangible partner and we need them to step up to the plate," he said.
It is estimated that the current seven-day lockdown will cost the state about $700 million.
"What we needed was the Commonwealth to make at least a comparable offer of support to working people . It was only yesterday we heard representatives of the federal government say they were the party for the workers. It would be really good if the self-styled party for the workers actually did some work for working people and provide them with the assistance they need, indeed that they require," Mr Pallas said.
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"I'm angry and disappointed, disappointed because whilst all the language talks about partnership, it deliver nothing in real terms of people."
Victoria's COVID testing commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed there were five new locally acquired COVID cases identified through testing on Saturday, and one in hotel quarantine.
Four of the five new cases were linked to previous cases, but one is so far a mystery case with no apparent link to either the City of Whittlesea or Port Melbourne clusters.
- Need mental health support? Phone Commerce Ballarat's Partners In Wellbeing hotline on 1300 375 330.