Business owners say they are frustrated at not being able to operate normally while football crowds and protest marchers have been allowed to gather in numbers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Business NSW Regional Manager Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe said some had closed and others were considering not re-opening due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Ms Seccombe said shops, gyms and other businesses were still limited in the number of people they could allow inside at the same time.
She said they wanted the state government to stop delaying in allowing them to open normally.
"There is not clear guidance of when the rules will be relaxed," she said.
"How is it that some businesses can't even open or can barely cover their costs due to restrictions, yet the government and the NSW Police stood by while thousands marched without social distancing [in Sydney on the weekend] and they are now toying with the idea of letting thousands attend football matches? she said.
"Many businesses have gone to the wall. Most business owners have had to lay off staff as well as make do without income for themselves, and they've accepted this enormous sacrifice was the cost of keeping each other safe and getting to the other side of this global health crisis," she said.
"It now seems that all bets are off. If that's the case, then it's time to let all businesses re-open to full capacity, get the economy moving again and get thousands of people across NSW re-employed."
Meanwhile, she said businesses had welcomed a federal government move to extend a scheme allowing them to instantly write-off asset purchases up to $150,000. She said this would allow businesses who could afford to spend to stimulate the local economy.
It now seems that all bets are off. If that's the case, then it's time to let all businesses re-open to full capacity.
- Vicki Seccombe, Business NSW Western NSW regional manager
"With many businesses reviewing how they operate within the workplace, this program could be used for an office fit-out, to provide each employee their own laptops to work remotely more often or even introduce a centralised computer system for e-commerce, invoicing and digital receipts," she said.
And Regional Development Australia Central West has partnered with The Entourage for a free webinar to help local businesses progress as COVID-19 restrictions ease. The Getting Back to Business program, hosted by Andrew Morello is on June 23 from 10am-12:30pm.
Contact RDA Central West for information.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
