River Murray Flood

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:06): My question is for the Minister for Small and Family Business. Can the minister provide an update on how the state government is supporting the communities and businesses impacted by the flooding of the River Murray?

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (15:07): I thank the member for Torrens for the question and for her interest in the welfare of small and family businesses across the state, but in particular along the River Murray.

We all know in this place that the River Murray floods have had a devastating impact on many river communities. We know the waters have receded, but residents and business owners are still counting the cost and still working to a return to normal. The Malinauskas government is continuing to implement a comprehensive support package for small businesses. We are continuing to provide targeted support as it is required.

I am pleased to advise that across the four grant programs being administered by the Office for Small and Family Business more than 600 grant applications have been approved, with a total value of over $4.3 million. This has included the Early Business Closure Grant and the Generator Grant for those business who were advised early on that they would be impacted with the water coming and were advised that their electricity supply would be impacted. Both those grants have now closed; they have done the job that they were intended to.

The Industry Support Grant and the Flood Recovery Grant remain open to support small businesses who are experiencing a loss of trade or who are undertaking the clean-up of their premises. We will continue to provide support through the Small Business Financial Counselling Support Program as well, through Rural Business Services. This service is helping impacted small businesses and individuals develop recovery and continuity plans, understand the short-term and long-term impacts of the flood event and help manage their financial wellbeing as they recover and rebuild. More than 200 small businesses have so far accessed this service.

Based on the community feedback we have received through ongoing discussions with small businesses, councils and RDAs and other stakeholders, we have recently implemented several changes to grant guidelines. I want to thank the Treasurer for his support in making those changes, making it easier for small businesses to access available funding where it is needed. For example, the eligibility criteria for the Small Business Industry Support Grant have been updated to allow flexibility in the months that are selected to make up a quarter, meaning small businesses can access funding sooner. Changes to this particular program also allow for businesses who commenced trading less than 12 months before the flood event to be eligible for that grant as well.

The government understands that many small businesses are not yet in a position to apply for some of those grants, particularly the recovery grants. They are going through the process now of assessing their damage and working through insurance claims and making decisions about what their future holds, so I am pleased to advise that we are extending the Industry Support Grant through to 30 September this year and extending the Flood Recovery Grant through to 31 December this year.

Of course, in addition to these specific grants there are other grants and programs helping tourism businesses, agricultural businesses and residents, including the new round of River Revival Vouchers with a new $750 category of vouchers. I want to thank the Minister for Tourism for all the support of those tourism businesses through those programs. A new ballot opens on 19 June, and I again want to acknowledge the tourism minister for her support of those local tourism businesses and her continued support for those businesses being impacted along the River Murray.