Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Ministers statements: small business support

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (11:52): The Andrews government is delivering a major injection to help businesses make a strong recovery from the effects of the omicron variant and the impacts that it has had on business confidence and staff availability over summer. A new and extended $100 million voucher scheme will provide rebates to Victorians for entertainment, dining and travel, with a $10 million round of Melbourne Money to be delivered in partnership with the City of Melbourne. The scheme will be extended across the state, with a new $30 million program providing rebates on food and wine experiences in peri-urban and regional areas, which is a wonderful thing and, I am sure, being welcomed by businesses in those areas. A new entertainment voucher scheme will provide $30 million in rebates for tickets to the theatre, live music, cinemas, museums, galleries, conferences, exhibitions and other events across Victoria, and there are so, so many of those that people can throw themselves into. A new $30 million round of the Victorian travel voucher scheme will encourage even more people to holiday at home and spend on accommodation attractions and tours in Victoria.

Businesses will also receive targeted support with a $60 million ventilation voucher program to help small businesses purchase equipment and upgrades to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and improve consumer confidence. There will be rebates of up to $5000 available, as well as $500 vouchers—a couple of streams to this program so businesses can work out what is best for them. Some $34.2 million of Jobs Victoria funding will be used to place workers in over 1500 jobs across hospitality, warehousing and logistics, tourism and food processing—again, the sectors that have been most profoundly impacted over the summer. A further $5 million will extend the very popular and lovely small business digital adaptation program, providing rebates of up to $1200 so businesses can access and learn to use a range of digital tools. The extension of the business recovery and resilience mentoring program with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will mean more small businesses will have access to coaching and support.

Dr Cumming: On a point of order, President, the previous question from Mr Limbrick to Mr Leane I do not believe was answered. Can I give an example? Mr Limbrick asked if the $54 million that the government actually suggested was the $54 million that was going to be lost from local government. I know that $2.6 million is being lost just by Maribyrnong; there are 79 councils. Could you please consider his answer for the next day of sitting?

The PRESIDENT: Dr Cumming, Mr Limbrick asked the question, and he did not ask for any explanation. I think he was satisfied with the answer, and I was satisfied. I will leave it at this stage.