Businesses left in the lurch after grant program closes

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has called for an urgent funding boost to the State Government’s COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program, after thousands of businesses missed out due to funds being exhausted.

Mr Dametto said his office had been inundated with calls from small business owners furious they had missed out on applying after the scheme was announced last week.

“Although we welcomed the State Government coming forward with some relief to small business, it is quite clear that the $100 million Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program falls short of what’s needed out there for the small to medium sized business community,” Mr Dametto said.

“This funding will no doubt be a welcome relief for those who got their applications in before the scheme was exhausted, but it still leaves many businesses out in the cold. Most small business owners were preoccupied with the day-to-day running of their small business last week before they finally had a chance over the weekend to sit down and apply for the grant, only to be faced with the rude shock that applications had actually closed because the funding was exhausted.”

Mr Dametto said he would be writing to Treasurer Cameron Dick to ask for an urgent injection of funds in order to help keep local businesses afloat both in his electorate and across Queensland.

“Katter’s Australian Party will take up the fight for small businesses as we work to secure additional funding for this scheme,” he said.