Liberal candidate for Willoughby, Tim James, welcomed support for local business in the NSW Government's billion dollar COVID business support package.
The package will help local small businesses that were hardest hit by the Omicron wave, and includes financial support for small business to help keep their workers safe with rapid antigen tests, and a $700 million Small Business Support Program to assist businesses to help keep their workers employed.
Mr James said the targeted package comes at a particularly critical time for local businesses as the attempt to recover from the effects of the Omicron wave and get themselves on a sound footing after a tough summer period.
"The NSW Government is helping business with the costs of rapid antigen tests for their workers, extending the Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant, and the Small Business Support Program will be of great help by providing payroll assistance to businesses to help them stay afloat," Mr James said.
"These small business support measures are exactly what local businesses have asked, and are a great example of why we need for a strong and experienced Government leading our recovery from COVID."
Premier Dominic Perrottet said while case numbers are now declining, the NSW Government is determined to support those businesses that have been most affected during this wave of the pandemic.
"NSW is tracking better than expected and confidence is returning. And as we did with earlier recoveries, we will come through this recent challenge stronger than ever," Mr Perrottet said. "We've got the backs of businesses, as we have throughout this entire pandemic."
The Small Business Support Program helps those businesses with annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million with a decline in turnover of at least 40 per cent.
It provides eligible businesses a lump sum payment of 20 per cent of weekly payroll with a minimum payment of $500 per week and a maximum payment of $5,000 per week.
In addition, the existing Small Business Fees, Charges and RAT Rebate will be increased by 50% from the current $2,000 limit to $3,000 and employing businesses will be able to use the rebate to obtain RATs.
This will support worker availability by helping reduce costs to small businesses and enabling healthy staff who have been exposed to COVID-19, but test negative, to return to work.
