The Australian Retailers Association is calling on the Federal Government to reintroduce a support scheme for Victorian retailers and businesses impacted by the lockdown.
The original seven-day, circuit-breaker lockdown was yesterday extended for another week, as Victoria battles a COVID outbreak which has resulted in 69 active cases and 370 exposure sites in the state.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the Federal Government needs to step up to the plate and deliver a targeted support package to offset the estimated $2 billion in lost retail trade.
"If this virus has taught us anything, it’s that our plans and progress can change very quickly with little notice.
"A week ago, our economic recovery was on track – business confidence was at record highs and the Melbourne CBD was getting its mojo back. We were starting to think that the worst of Covid was behind us.
"Sadly, that’s not the case and our thoughts are with our Victorian friends, families and the small businesses who are battling through the current lockdown.
"We understand and respect the importance of these health imperatives, however it’s a bitter blow for the people of Victoria who’ve suffered more than most through this pandemic.
"Victoria can’t do this alone. The Federal Government has done a great job to keep businesses afloat through JobKeeper and we need them to step up to the plate again.
"We believe a reintroduction of a scheme like JobKeeper, which is targeted at those most in need, would be the simplest and easiest measure to implement, given the back-end systems are already known and worked well for a year.
"The scheme should be targeted – just for those negatively impacted by lockdowns," he said.
The calls come as the Victorian Government extends its own support for businesses, with an extra $209.3 million set to flow to small and medium-sized businesses on top of the $250.7 million announced on Sunday, taking the total support package to $460 million.
90,000 businesses will benefit from the original support, while 70,000 of these businesses in metropolitan Melbourne will be eligible for the extended support.
"We welcome the extension of the Victorian Government’s businesses support grants, but more funding is desperately needed," Zahra added.
"But this isn’t just about Victoria.
"This is about other states and territories who might have to deal with state-imposed lockdowns and restrictions, should new cases emerge in the community.
"A scheme like JobKeeper should be a lifeline that can be activated when it’s needed," he said.
The Victorian Government has also renewed its calls for the Federal Government to reinstate the JobKeeper scheme for Victorian businesses.