Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Shepparton electorate

Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (12:44): (176) My question is to the Minister for Small Business, and I ask: when will critical flood relief payments be made to businesses who have applied and qualified for flood relief grants but have not yet received their payment? It has been eight months since the floods, and our region is still rebuilding and trying to recover. Small business owners have suffered significant financial and personal loss during the pandemic, followed by the impact of the floods. The stress and pressure continue. Many business owners and members of the community have contacted me frustrated with delays and are feeling let down at a time when they need support most. The red tape and bureaucracy made applying for the last round of funding a difficult process, causing stress and frustration, with applications denied when clearly qualified for. Many have been waiting for months for their applications still to be processed. I ask the minister to ensure that people are not waiting for long periods of time and that the flood relief payments are made promptly.