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Following ongoing advocacy from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), the Western Australian government has announced a range of small business supports, including rent relief, to assist businesses with the expected trading losses they’ll incur as Covid cases continue to rise across the state.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra has welcomed the government’s $67 million support package – the vast bulk of which is allocated to rent relief, with $3000 grants to be provided to eligible small business tenants.
“Covid cases are continuing to rise in WA and additional restrictions have been put in place, so a decline in revenue is inevitable for some businesses as they battle through this challenging period,” he says.
“We’ve been in close contact with the WA government discussing the ongoing challenges for small businesses, and we appreciate the speed in which they have put these supports in place as a direct result of our advocacy.
“Rent is a significant pain point for small business, and with limited customers shopping in physical stores at the moment, many will struggle to pay their operating costs. The rent relief grants will help cushion the blow from the current wave of new Covid cases and help businesses to keep the lights on and their doors open.”