TIME to think SMALL

AS CORONAVIRUS SHUTS THE COUNTRY DOWN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PLEADING FOR OUR HELP

Just months ago, the #buyfromthebush campaign was a lifeline for struggling businesses trying to stay afloat in drought-stricken communities. Now, small business owners across Australia are praying loyal customers and government bailouts can save them from going under during the COVID-19 crisis.

Since social distancing and self-isolation became the norm across the country, retail businesses, cafes, beauty salons and fitness studios quickly felt the sting as sales dropped by up to 80 per cent in some areas, leading to staff cuts, reduced hours and even closures.

But the prospect of hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs became real last week when it was announced that Australia would follow in the footsteps of major cities such as New York by enforcing our own more drastic measures – a complete shutdown of non-essential services, possibly for up to six months, to stop the rapid spread of the virus.

As “irresponsible” people refused to follow the health advice to stay at home, and the number of new cases surged, the government ordered pubs, clubs, gyms, restaurants and cinemas to close indefinitely, leaving many uncertain about their financial future.

The government’s $66 billion coronavirus stimulus to help small and medium businesses with employees through the hard times will issue grants totalling up to $100,000, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison recognised that unemployment is inevitable. “We cannot prevent all the many hardships, many sacrifices that we will face in the months ahead,” he said.

But while business districts emptied out as desk-bound employees worked from home, those whose livelihoods depend on being in the public space have pleaded with others to help keep them in jobs.