DOZENS of Limestone Coast businesses have registered their interest for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper payment, which has the potential to save hundreds of jobs across the region.
Federal Parliament endorsed the $130b subsidy package last week, which will help subsidise more than six million positions nationally – including in the most heavily affected sectors such as retail, hospitality and tourism – through $1500 fortnightly payments to businesses.
Highlighting the need to preserve the productive capacity of the Australian economy, Member for Barker Tony Pasin said extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures.
Mount Gambier’s Commodore on the Park is one of over 838,000 businesses nationwide to register its interest for the JobKeeper payment.
General manager Tom Kosch revealed the hospitality venue had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic since restrictions on licensed premises forced the restaurant to close its on March 23.
“It’s been frightening for both our management and our staff because just before the crisis we had 55 people employed, which resulted in us standing down 50 of them when the restrictions came into effect,” he said.
“Fortunately we have been able to bring 27 of those employees back on the JobKeeper program as of this week.”
He said having staff back on-site brought with it some normality.
“It’s great to see people within your business again and it will be even better to see customers and welcome people in again when that time comes,” he said.
“With the support of the JobKeeper payment we also now feel like we can cost-effectively run takeaway and re-heat packages for our guests and other customers, which will begin next week.
“It will be good to have our chefs and front of house people doing something.”
While he hoped for a more normal trade to pay employees on the other side of the pandemic, Mr Kosch said he was grateful he could support staff through this scheme.
“Unfortunately the crisis has affected our business by around 90pc since we have no restaurant or function business and very limited accommodation at a time where we would actually expect 90pc occupancy,” he said.
“We are really thankful that we are able to connect with our employees through this JobKeeper payment and that post the crisis we will be able to rebound and continue to offer those opportunities to our staff in the future.”
Mr Pasin visited the central Jubilee Highway venue yesterday where he spoke to Mr Kosch about the roll out of the government’s support measures.
“The JobKeeper Payment is an economic lifeline for millions of Australian workers and their families, including in Barker,” Mr Pasin said.
“This is vital in Barker and across Australia as we prepare to meet the challenges of today and position ourselves for recovery.”
Combined with the government’s previous actions, Mr Pasin said it totalled $320b in economic support to Australian businesses, households and individuals affected by the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package would give millions of eligible businesses and their workers a lifeline to not only get through the crisis, but bounce back on the other side.
“This is about keeping the connection between the employer and the employee and keeping people in their jobs even though the business they work for may go into hibernation and close down for six months.”
The JobKeeper payments will flow to eligible businesses from the first week of May, with payments back-dated to March 30 when the program started.
It is available to full-time and part-time workers, sole traders and casuals who have been with their employer for 12 months or more.
