The Illawarra Business Chamber has welcomed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's announcement that up to 200,000 licence holders operating in the trades and construction sectors will not have to pay up to $50 million worth of licence fees.
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The fees will be waived to tradies for 12 months and the chamber's executive director Adam Zarth said it was good news for hardworking trades and construction workers in the region.
Mr Zarth said tradies made a significant contribution to the Illawarra economy and it was important they are able to remain operable during the present coronavirus lockdown.
"There are up to 19,665 tradespeople and related workers in the Illawarra who may benefit from this announcement," Mr Zarth said.
"They comprise 15.4 percent of our workforce which is a higher proportion than the state average."
"The construction sector, along with manufacturing and mining, is one of the key sectors that needs to be kept operating through the pandemic lockdown, and where possible, allowed to grow so that it can employ workers from other sectors that have been put into effective hibernation."
The Premier and finance and small business minister Damien Tudehope said the licence fee waivers were a crucial part of the NSW Government's first economic stimulus package.
And would provide much-needed relief for small businesses, at a time when cash flow is crucial.
"It is the least we can do to support these businesses and their staff through this challenging time," Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Dominello said the measures would help businesses during one of the hardest economic challenges in our lifetime.
"We're going to help them withstand this storm, so they can hit the ground running later," he said.
Mr Tudehope said the NSW Government was focused on keeping businesses in business and as many people as possible in jobs.
"Our number one priority is the health and safety of the community, but this is a dual challenge and we need to do everything we can to ensure the NSW economy emerges with a strong beating heart," he said.
"Whether it's a local café, restaurant, indoor sporting venue, gym or club, we want to ensure they have every chance to continue to support our communities. While it seems a long way off now this will pass and we don't want any road blocks for people."
The latest announcement follows the first set of fee waivers that are starting to come into effect such as the $19.5 million in state-based fee relief for industries.
It gives eligible businesses in the entertainment and hospitality sectors access to a 12-month waiver on liquor licences and certain SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading fees and charges.
ClubsNSW has welcomed the NSW Government's decision to waive liquor licence fees for 12 months for the state's 1200 registered clubs saying it will save the industry $7.25 million and provide individual venues with average liquor licence fee relief of $6,046.
ClubsNSW chief executive Josh Landis described it as another helpful initiative, following on from the gaming and payroll tax deferral announcement that will also help the industry.
"This is a sensible move by the government and one which will provide some additional relief for the industry, particularly for smaller venues and those in rural and regional parts of the state," he said.
"This is an exceptionally challenging time for clubs and every little bit of assistance helps".
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
