Canberra lockdown: Hospitality sector banking on short lockdown

Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Anthony Brierley was hopeful Canberra's new coronavirus cluster could be "smashed" and restrictions lifted after the seven-day shutdown.

The hospitality sector has been ordered back to takeaway only after a mystery COVID-19 case forced the territory into lockdown.

Stood-down workers and shuttered businesses will able to access financial support through various new support packages.

Workers who lose 20 or more hours will be eligible for a $750-a-week Commonwealth disaster payment, while $450-a-week payments will be offered to those who lose between eight and 20 hours.

Applications open on August 20, but payments will be backdated to the start of lockdown.

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Small to medium businesses who employ staff will be able to receive a $3000 lump sum payment and sole traders will be offered $1000, under a package to be jointly funded by the ACT and federal governments.

Businesses will need to have experienced a decline in turnover of 30 or more per cent as a result of the lockdown restrictions. The ACT government has also opened a small business hardship scheme, where traders can claim credits on fees and charges of up to $10,000.

Mr Brierley said with the disaster payments to cover staff wages and the takeaway option to ensure perishable food wasn't tossed out, the major overhead for businesses was rent.

He urged the Barr government to reintroduce rent waivers and deferrals, similar to what was offered at the start of the pandemic.

"I think businesses will be fine if it is just for seven days, provided they do something on rent," he said.

"The most important thing is that we just have to smash this out, and hope we can come out fast on the other side. A week is not so bad."

Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Graham Catt said the private sector had been bracing for the possibility of a lockdown, or tighter restrictions, as Sydney's outbreak began to spread into the regions.

"Business, this time, have had time to prepare, but unfortunately it doesn't make it any easier - particularly for the tourism and hospitality sectors," Mr Catt said.

Mr Catt echoed Mr Brierley's comments about the need for rent relief for commercial tenants.

He said businesses were still trying to work out if they were deemed essential and could remain open, noting the rules were different compared to Canberra's first lockdown.

ACT Council of Social Service chief executive Emma Campbell was pleased a $200-per-week disaster payment would be available for job seekers who had lost more than eight hours of work.

But Dr Campbell noted the top-up wouldn't be offered to welfare recipients who didn't meet that criteria, meaning some of the most vulnerable people in the community would only have their base payments to rely on through the lockdown.

She also called on the federal government to stop pursuing welfare debts amid the health emergency.

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