Covid Non-Support

13 Apr Covid Non-Support

Dear Here to Help

I am really frustrated. I am a healthcare professional in Victoria and it is bad enough that government closed down some businesses, but not other, similar business due to Covid.

But to add insult to injury, government Covid assistance packages are now only available for some businesses closed down by government during Covid restrictions.

It just feels like government is taking from our businesses with the one hand (closing us down, but leaving similar businesses open), then turning around and taking with the other hand too (not eligible for Covid support packages).

When I spoke with my peak industry association, they said they are talking to government. Apparently, government’s response is they don’t want to amend current support, but will consider our response when designing any future support packages.

Don’t they get it? Much more of this and there won’t be a next time for us. We can’t keep surviving shutdown after shutdown, then – to add insult to injury – being disqualified for government support packages.

Thank you for your message. I am sorry for your frustration.

I am going to hazard a guess that you are in a smaller profession. It is really hard for smaller professions to be heard by government.

During Stage 3 covid restrictions, governments around Australia listened equally to many similar professions – giving like treatment to like professions. However, unfortunately, during Stage 4 and “rapid shutdowns”, I am hearing that many smaller Victorian professions feel disadvantaged by government’s announcements.

It would indeed seem logical that all businesses forced by government to shut their doors, and suffer losses, should have equal access to government support packages.

One crucial issue for public policy design is just how hard it is for smaller professions to be heard by government. Unfortunately, generally speaking, the bigger the profession and the larger the business, the better the outcomes from government regulation and legislation.

This is something we were very aware of when I worked in government, designing the law.

Next month’s article will give some more detailed discussion on problems, and solutions, for smaller businesses dealing with bureaucracy.

For now, I suggest you speak to your peak industry association and ask them what you can do to support their advocacy for your industry. Talk to your colleagues in your industry and get them onboard with supporting your peak industry association as well.

Remember – united we stand!

This article comes from my column entitled “Here to Help” in Hunter Local, April 2021. If you have an everyday problem just begging for a simple, real world solution, send it to “Here to Help” and let’s see what we can achieve.

Elaine Abery has a closet full of great ideas and empowering solutions. She’s also the Director of Unravelling Red Tape, a company dedicated to helping everyday people, not-for-profits and companies change the world through improved decision-making and legislation.