Con Games: Small businesses must be compensated
The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has called on Labor to provide compensation to small businesses across the Valley who will wear a huge financial hit due to the disastrous cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.
“Last week I met with the owners of a motel located on the doorstep of the would-be athletes village in Morwell who were buzzing after reaching an agreement with Team England and Team Wales, who decided to use the motel as their base for 6 weeks in the lead up to and during the Games,” Mr Cameron said.
“The contract, worth some $300,000, was due to be inked the very day Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan cancelled the Commonwealth Games.
“But instead of preparing for an influx of visitors that would surely bolster their small business, the owners are now devastated that all their hard work will amount to nothing.
“Some Valley businesses have survived the closure of Hazelwood, Covid lockdowns and skyrocketing operational costs by the skin of their teeth.
“This massive blow – at the hands of the Andrews Labor Government – has set small businesses back years and tens of thousands of dollars, yet they have unbelievably not been considered or even mentioned in discussions about compensation or financial relief.
“The Morwell electorate has been decimated by the Andrews Labor Government. The Premier has pulled the rug out from under the local workforce with the closure of Hazelwood, the white paper mill, the native timber industry, and soon all coal-fired power stations.
“Our small business sector is resilient, but the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games is a monumental hit that must be met with financial aid.
“The Minister must disclose what is being done to ensure businesses are adequately compensated for the financial losses associated with Labor’s compensation of the Commonwealth Games.”