Business SA has warned some local businesses are in store for a dire December after today’s announcement that the Parafield Gardens Cluster restrictions, including the one person per four square meter rule inside venues, will be extended for two weeks.
The independent peak business body is urging the Government to consider financial support for businesses that will remain materially impacted by ongoing restrictions.
It is also calling on the Government to regularly review today’s Parafield Gardens Cluster Phase 2 restrictions and consider easing them further before 14 December if good health numbers continue.
Business SA CEO, Martin Haese, welcomed today’s announcement that South Australia’s borders will fully re-open to Victoria on 1 December, but said there was not much else good news for businesses.
“Business SA is disappointed restrictions will not return to pre-Parafield Gardens Cluster levels on Tuesday 1 December, as was originally indicated,” he said.
“The continuation of the one person per four square metre rule inside premises for another two weeks will have a significant impact on many hospitality, retail, events and leisure businesses at what is their busiest time of the year.
“We welcome the easing of restrictions to one person per two square metre rules for outdoor venues and the removal of the 100-person cap on venues, but this will likely only benefit larger businesses.
“Practically, today’s announcement will not mean most businesses will continue to operate at 25 per cent capacity, which simply is not financially viable.
“Business SA also has grave concerns for the City with work from home advice all but cancelling Christmas for city traders who will wear the brunt of this as they have all year.
“Business SA welcomes the introduction of QR codes to strengthen contact tracing from 1 December, however, strongly supports a grace period for businesses with a lack of time to educate patrons on downloading the mySA gov app.”
Business SA is now doubling down on its calls for the Government to relax the criteria associated with its $10,000 Emergency Cash Grants to help businesses materially impacted by the Parafield outbreak, but who are not on JobKeeper, to help them get through the all-important Christmas period.
“Business SA also wants the Government to consider increasing the Round 2 $10,000 Emergency Cash Grants, which were announced pre-Parafield Gardens Cluster outbreak, and don’t take into account the full three-day lockdown and now two weeks of restricted trading,” said Mr Haese.
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27 November 2020