Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP has welcomed the government’s decision to provide $10,000 grants to bushfire impacted local businesses. However, she questioned why it has taken this long.

The Morrison Government also announced it will establish multi-agency hubs in the Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven to support long-term bushfire recovery, reduce the paperwork burden and increase local business advisors to help support impacted people navigate the complex support systems.

Mrs Phillips has been sounding the alarm about the unfolding economic crisis on the South Coast for months. Local businesses have been struggling to recover from the loss of the summer income since December and many have already been forced to close.

Last week, Mrs Phillips met with Minister David Littleproud and the head of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency to raise these concerns directly and she is pleased to see the government has listened to what local people have been saying.

“For months, I have been calling on the government to provide a direct cash injection to local businesses. Every day I am speaking with businesses that are crying out for support and it is great that the government has finally started listening,” the Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips said.

“Businesses have been struggling for far too long and the government’s response so far has been totally inadequate. 

“I encourage the government to consider further support for workers through extended eligibility and access to wage assistance programs for small businesses significantly directly and indirectly affected by the bushfire crisis.

“While I welcome this announcement, we know the government has bungled implementation of these packages before, so I will be watching this very closely to make sure this help is working for local people.”