NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns MP visited Campbelltown yesterday to find out the impact COVID-19 had had on small businesses, sporting groups and charities in the community.
The message he got was very clear: small businesses are in desperate need of certainty and support more than ever before.
“I’m very concerned that the government has announced or is contemplating switching off financial support for businesses like Seta’s, when we hit 80 per cent vaccination rates,” Mr Minns said.
“The NSW Opposition is calling on the government today to reverse course in relation to that, to give some business certainty, particularly for Western and South Western Sydney, who’ve been hit particularly hard.”
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren MP, first took Mr Minns to Seta’s Cafe Campbelltown to discuss the impacts on small business. They were joined by Federal Member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander MP.
“If you look at Seta’s and businesses that we’re seeing right throughout Campbelltown, they closed their doors, they listened to the government health advice, they followed the rules in order to keep us safe and we’ve gotten through this largely intact because of their selfless actions,” Mr Minns said.
“Now it’s time for the NSW Government to step up and have their back when we go through this challenging economic periods through October and November.”
The next stop was Campbelltown Showground, where Mr Minns and Mr Warren met with Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club president, Col Packer, to discuss how the cancellation of community sport had impacted clubs like the Harlequins.
“Campbelltown – like the rest of South Western and Western Sydney – has felt the impacts of COVID-19 greater than any other area throughout our state,” Mr Warren said.
“We have certainly done our bit to help curb the spread of COVID-19 despite the lack of support and resources afforded to us by the NSW Government.”
Lomandra Community Project Pantry, Leumeah – one of the many organisations who have really stepped up to help out locals in need during the pandemic – and Clenton’s Transport, Smeaton Grange were also visited.
