Business support schemes could be extended through winter

Friday 30 July 2021

Business support schemes could be extended into the winter - and possibly early next year - as restrictions remain in place, the Economic Development Minister has said.

Senator Lyndon Farnham told the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel this morning that the Visitor Attractions and Events Scheme as well as the Fixed Costs Support Scheme could remain in place until March 2022.

Meanwhile, the Co-Funded Payroll Scheme could be extended until the end of September if the Treasury Minister, Deputy Susie Pinel, agrees.

Senator Farnham suggested that “further sectors that had fallen out of the scheme earlier in the year” could once again benefit from the scheme, citing retail and close contact businesses as examples, as they continue to be affected by the current restrictions.

“That detail is still being finalised and will be part of the Business Support update which is likely to be on Monday rather than later today,” the Minister said.

Senator Farnham said the changes had been made to “to reflect the ongoing impact of the virus”, noting that until the business support measures had been “very effectual”, even though businesses wished they had received more.  

The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, promised last week an announcement on business support measures as he announced that Stage 7 of the Reconnection Roadmap, which would see nightclubs reopen as well as stand-up drinking in pubs and bars, large events and private gatherings, would be delayed until the end of August.

Senator Farnham also said that a solution has been approved to “rectify” the issue between events held in private gardens and public spaces and that the same rules should soon apply to both to help the “beleaguered events industry."

He said: “We are also looking at bringing some levelling the playing field in terms of numbers in private outdoor spaces and public outdoor spaces, which I hope will provide some, albeit small, some useful assistance to the events sector during August.”