Page 1951 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2022
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MR PARTON: I have a supplementary question. Minister, why can’t residents be given more proactive information about works like these?
MS CHEYNE: I probably need to take that question on notice to check on the contract work that is being undertaken. I think it does fall within the city services element of the portfolio, but I will check what proactive communications were made. It may also have been that we just did not expect there to be the odour that has occurred out of this. I would remind members that this work is essential; it needs to be carried out for the safety of all.
Government—business support grants
MS CASTLEY: My question is to the business minister. Late last year some businesses in the tourism, accommodation, arts, events, hospitality and fitness sectors missed out on business support grants because they did not fit neatly into certain provider categories and businesses were told that the government would review their eligibility. After this review, on 21 February businesses were informed that they could reapply for these grants, but FOI documents reveal they had to apply by 7 March, giving them only 14 days. Minister, how many of these businesses did this review affect and were they all contacted by your government to reapply?
MR BARR: In the accommodation and tourism venue operator support program there were 51 applications received and 47 were approved, worth 1.46 million. As I understand it, at the time this briefing was provided one was still under assessment awaiting further information from the applicant and three were assessed as ineligible. But that may include applications that were received under the totality of the program. I will take on notice the number who applied in the 14-day period which I think you are referring to.
Ms Castley: I could not hear the Chief Minister. Did he say 51? I need some clarification. Can he explain those numbers again?
MR BARR: There were 51 that applied for the totality of the program, I am advised. In the accommodation and tourism venue operator support program there were 51 applications received there. Forty-seven of them were approved. There is one under assessment awaiting further information from the applicant and three were assessed as ineligible.
That was a program where applications closed on 17 September last year. Your question referred to a further assessment and an opportunity for people to submit a late application in the two-week period. I will take on notice the number. There were 51 in the previous program, so I am suggesting to you that it is not going to be a big number.
MS CASTLEY: My supplementary then is: of the ones that were deemed eligible that were not previously, how many of those were there and were they all contacted, or was there just a media release?
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