The Andrews Labor Government’s cruel sole trader announcement is simply tokenistic and will see most sole traders ineligible for any relief.
Sole traders who do not have a commercial lease were given a kick in the guts after being excluded from any support by Labor.
The majority of sole traders do not have or need commercial lease agreements meaning they fall short of Andrews’ cruel sole trader support criteria.
This means that hundreds of thousands of sole traders who operate from home or are mobile will be denied support.
Many personal trainers, gardeners, coffee van operators, mobile pet groomers and electricians will get nothing.
Sole traders are on their knees with the Andrews Labor Government’s strict lockdowns forcing many to stop operating and without state government assistance.
Victoria is not in the position we are due to bad luck, but due to the bad decisions made by the Andrews Labor Government around hotel quarantine and its botched contact tracing.
Comments attributable to Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Small Business, Michael O’Brien:
“Sole traders are the heart and soul of the Victorian economy and I am calling on the Premier to rethink this cruel eligibility which will see many sole traders without any state government support.
“Sole traders have had the door slammed in their faces through no fault of their own. This cruel Premier has set such a cruel criteria to make sure the fewest number of sole traders are eligible for assistance.
“It’s bad enough that Labor’s harsh restrictions have stopped so many sole traders from working, but for Labor to then deny them any support is outrageous.
“The Liberal Nationals support sole traders and understand their real value to our economy, unfortunately Andrews clearly does not.”
