Coronavirus

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:39): A further supplementary: will this government provide any immediate interim support to prevent businesses going bankrupt and employees losing their jobs while they delay implementing the national mandatory code?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:39): The government has already provided and announced significant support. For example, out of the $1 billion business recovery packages that we announced there is considerable relief in relation to payroll tax for some businesses. There is the land tax relief that I just talked about. In other areas, we have waived licence fees, administration levies and others.

The government, on behalf of the taxpayers of South Australia, has been assiduous in trying to provide as much support as we can, to try to support as many businesses as we can and as many people as we can. However, as the commonwealth government has indicated, and as I have indicated, it is impossible for the taxpayers of South Australia to stop every business in the state from getting into significant problems and it is impossible for the taxpayers of the state to save every job that might be in trouble because of COVID-19.