The Andrews Labor Government’s latest round of business supports – released after the most recent lock down period – again have criteria so strict, they rule out the majority of East Gippsland companies.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull said an estimated four in five businesses were not eligible for the earlier support package.

“The Government announces these support packages with great fanfare and pats itself on the back, but then sets the criteria so tight, most are not eligible.

“One of many such cases is Annette Towns, who owns a small business in Orbost called FB Dicken & Son, which she has owned for 14 years.

“She was forced to close over the latest lockdown at great cost, but on applying for the $2,000 support, was advised she was not eligible.”

Mr Bull said this was just one of many enterprises that was forced to close, but cannot access the relief fund.

“They lock you down in the country for no good reason, cut off your income and make you ineligible for the support payment.

“It comes on the back of revelations in December that the previous $100m business grant scheme had only distributed $12m (12%) despite it being operational for several months.

“This was caused by what we are again facing now – a grand announcement but then a criteria so strict, it rules the majority out and the money is saved in the government coffers.

“What I have done is asked the Government to reconsider this overly strict criteria.

“These are enterprises that have done it tough for some time now, after drought and fires in the region, COVID was the last straw.

“The Government cannot close them down, self-congratulate itself on a support program, but then rule 80% out. That’s just mischievous.”

Caption: Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull with Annette Towns, owner of FB Dicken & Son, whose business was ineligible for State Government funding following last months lockdown.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

The inability of some East Gippsland business and property owners to obtain fire coverage insurance has been raised in State Parliament this week.

Gippsland East, Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the owners of the Coonawarra Farm Resort at Glenaladale have been advised their insurance will not be renewed because the nearby State Forest presents an unacceptable fire risk.

“They have contacted 40 insurers with no success,” Mr Bull said, who added a resident of Swifts Creek was in a similar position.

“It seems insurance companies are making this judgement after years of mismanagement of fuel loads on Crown Land, which reached record levels prior to last summer’s fires after the Government achieved just 43% of its already greatly reduced fuel reduction burn target.

“The situation is, we cannot have the State Government burning less and less and therefore allowing fuel loads to build up, but not take responsibility for the outcome of these actions.

“Unless we have some intervention, we will see an exodus of businesses from rural areas, as it is too big a risk to run a business without appropriate insurance coverage and to achieve this, we need confidence fuel loads are being managed properly.

Monday, March 8, 2021

“The reality is we are fuel reduction burning less than around a third of what was being treated in 2013.

“The Government must start taking some action, or take responsibility for the consequences of that lack of action,” he said.

Caption: Coonawarra Farm Resort Managers Krystal and Lewis Ciaglia with Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull, discussing their challenges in obtaining insurance for the picturesque camp.

Representations have been made in State Parliament this week to ensure the East Gippsland Field Days and Buchan Rodeo can proceed this year.

Both events, to be held in the coming weeks, are yet to receive approvals for their COVID safe plans, despite having submitted them some time ago – and they cannot be held without this sign off.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, this week requested the Government fast track these approvals.

“This should not take so long and only leads to great uncertainty for these volunteer committees,” said Mr Bull.

“The last time we raised these matters, the Minister said he made no apologies for the strong scrutiny and while no-one objects to that, it is not reason to leave these things to the eleventh hour when they have been lodged for some time.

“One of the ridiculous things is there were questions around the deep clean at the Field Days. The assessors did not seem to realise it is held in an open paddock and you cannot deep clean grass and gravel.

“Those who are putting in hours and hours of volunteer time need the certainty of being able to proceed, by having these plans approved – that is why they lodged the applications early.

“The Buchan Rodeo has a 52-year history and the Field Days is our biggest event.

“Minister, you have had a long time to have this process streamlined, so please fire up your department to complete these assessments in a timely manner,” he told Parliament.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, pictured at the 2018 East Gippsland Field Days, is eager for the event and others like it to receive the necessary approval to proceed.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021