Reports that Service NSW is boosting staff levels by 250 to tackle a massive backlogs of unprocessed applications is welcome news for local businesses asking for financial help, according to Wollongong MP Paul Scully.
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Mr Scully has been asked to intervene several times over the last month for Wollongong businesses waiting for Service NSW to answer questions or acknowledge that applications for financial assistance have been received since the first round of support was announced more than a month ago.
He said Service NSW staff were under tremendous pressure and until now the government had not provided the additional resources they needed to support distressed business owners and operators.
Some businesses have waited more than four hours to have a call answered before the phone cut off.
"The boost to staff resources within Service NSW to cut through the enormous backlog of applications is welcome and should mean financial assistance for businesses in Wollongong should move more smoothly from now on," Mr Scully said.
"The Premier, Treasurer and other ministers could not continue to stand up at daily press conferences and direct people to contact Service NSW for help knowing that the staff are too busy to answer the phone, acknowledge receipt of applications or tell people how their applications are progressing.
"This is just basic customer service and the Government was failing big time. Businesses in the Wollongong area need some certainty during this difficult time.
"If the businesses asking for help provided the same customer service that the Government has offered over the last month, they'd be shutting their doors for good."
Mr Scully said he wrote to the Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello requesting an urgent injection of more staff resources into Service NSW.
He has also called for the Dine and Discover voucher scheme to be extended until at least October 2021, or the end of the year to help hospitality businesses recover from the lockdown.
Vouchers currently expire on 31 August 2021, a matter of days after this current lockdown is supposed to end.
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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.
