Locked down local businesses continue to be deemed ineligible for desperately needed financial support from the Victorian Labor Government, Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said.
Mr McCurdy said as the local community endured yet another Labor lockdown he continued to hear from frustrated and hurting businesses who are again ineligible for the Victorian government support they so desperately need.
“The Premier announced on Friday that if a business was eligible for support during lockdown four, the business would be eligible for support in lockdown five,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Well, these were the words hundreds of small vulnerable businesses in Ovens Valley did not want to hear.”
Mr McCurdy said many small, family-run operations were ineligible for financial support during lockdown four because of the strict Victorian Labor Government criteria and these businesses faced the same criteria this time, making them ineligible once again.
“I said it then and I’ll say it again now – the criteria should be that if you have been financially impacted, you should be eligible,” he said.
“These small businesses are fed up with Premier Andrews making sweeping statements that don’t apply to them and they are left with no support.”
Mr McCurdy said many businesses were telling him they were ineligible for the grants, despite being locked down and not permitted to operate, while their financial obligations continued.
“Daniel Andrews needs to stop picking winners and losers and support all Victorians as he pledged to do,” he said.
“With the extension of the lockdown pain is growing even more so locally and many people simply do not know where to turn.
“If your business is ineligible please let me know, we must stand up to these bullying tactics.”
Contact Mr McCurdy’s electorate office on 5721 6155.