Page 1860 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 June 2021

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approach businesses, and businesses readily responded, for the most part, and provided that evidence of transactions. We continued doing that through the full rollout of the scheme, and we are continuing to look at those transactions that occurred over 18 and 19 June.

MRS JONES: Minister, given that a pattern of questionable transactions occurred in the trial, how can you be so absolutely certain that $5.1 million has been injected into the economy, yet you have no idea what the stuff-ups of the scheme have cost?

MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Cheyne, do you want her to repeat the question? Perhaps without the colourful language, Mrs Jones.

MS CHEYNE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I don’t know what the question is.

MRS JONES: How do you know $5.1 million has gone into the economy when you do not know how much the stuff-ups have cost?

MS CHEYNE: Because we know what the overall transaction value was, compared to the voucher value. As I explained in a previous answer, this is what businesses had to put forward in their dashboard to claim the voucher. So we were able to keep a record of that, and that is how we have determined these calculations. Businesses are asked to verify these transactions, and compliance is high.

Business—ChooseCBR scheme

MR CAIN: My question is, unsurprisingly, to the Minister for Business and Better Regulation: this morning you revealed for the first time that less than 20 per cent of the 4,000 eligible businesses actually made money from the scheme and benefited from ChooseCBR customers coming through the door. You claimed that this was “a very strong take-up from business”. Minister, what do you say to the 80 per cent of eligible businesses in the ACT who did not receive any benefit from this scheme?

MS CHEYNE: Twenty per cent take-up is high, and it is consistent with schemes that have occurred elsewhere, including with our neighbours in New South Wales in terms of business take-up.

Members interjecting—

MS CHEYNE: To the businesses that did not participate in the scheme, my message to them through you, Madam Speaker, is please know we did make every effort to advertise the scheme. I detailed that at length in my ministerial statement this morning, including business-to-business engagement and ACT government-to-business engagement. It was widely advertised through government and other marketing material and we did seek to reach out to businesses so they could participate.

Members interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Minister. Members at the central table! Mr Barr and Ms Lee!


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