CHAMBER CALLS FOR NSW GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE FOR STRUGGLING SHIRE BUSINESSES
Although the NSW Government has responded with each new wave of restrictions, and has tried to keep businesses open, the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber calls for a proportionate response for this latest lockdown extension, considering the detrimental impacts on so many local businesses.
“This announcement has created further uncertainty amongst the business community, unsure if lockdowns will continue. Particularly impacted are the small retailers and hospitality businesses – the cafes, the restaurants and local shops that have been forced to close their doors,” says Hima Gupta, President of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber.
“The Government grant announced previously requires additional thinking to have more meaningful and widespread impacts. As it stands it excludes businesses generating revenue less than $75,000 a year and has no indicative timeline for grant applications and reimbursement of funds.
“We are particularly concerned by the hardships and mental wellbeing of many of our chamber members, and this lockdown extension will only exacerbate this.
“It is time for us, as a business community, to keep supporting each other and reach out to the most vulnerable in our community and look after them. We need to the right thing, follow the rules around lockdown, get vaccinated and encourage everyone around us to do the same. Only then will we break out of this vicious circle of lockdowns and prosperous together.”
The COVID-19 page of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber website has been updated with the latest list of resources for individuals and businesses.
7 July 2021