Kara Cooper, owner of Mount Vic and Me in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Small businesses in New South Wales say the latest round of COVID-19 business support lacks a clear eligibility criteria and shouldn’t leave out the smallest operators.
The coronavirus support package, jointly announced by the NSW and federal governments yesterday, includes a cashflow payment for struggling businesses that retain their staff throughout the lockdown and new grants for micro businesses.
Kara Cooper, owner of Mount Vic and Me in the Blue Mountains, says while the support might help her retain her only casual staff member, it unfairly denies assistance to small operators in the region, and means small businesses will need to consult their accountants to navigate the eligibility criteria.
Sydney’s two-week lockdown is hitting small businesses ‘harder’29/06/2021|6min
Sydney’s current lockdown is hitting small businesses “harder” than previous ones because it was so unexpected, according to Small Business Women Australia founder Amanda Rose.
This comes as a support package is expected to be announced by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet as early as today for businesses impacted by the lockdown.
“I do have a long list of women very anxiously waiting to see if they can get any financial support because I have a feeling that this time around it’s actually impacted small business … harder,” Ms Rose said.
Small Business Women Australia founder Amanda Rose does not like the “silence” from the government regarding why Christine Holgate was humiliated and bullied out of her role as Australia Post CEO.
Ms Holgate was forced out of Australia Post last year after it was revealed four executives had been awarded Cartier watches worth a total of $20,000.
She has since been cleared of misusing taxpayer funds but said her position was untenable after Mr Morrison’s intervention where he pushed for her resignation.
“I think this is absolutely appalling behaviour and from who we consider the board of this country, which is our government,” Ms Rose said.
“She was bullied, she was humiliated and I’m extremely proud and impressed that she has come out firing calmly, strategically and with the truth.
“I don’t like the silence … from the government. Why isn’t there an investigation on how this woman was treated and how poorly she was treated?”
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way leaders are perceived highlighting new qualities which should be the focus of leadership in 2021, according to Small Business Women Australia founder Amanda Rose.
“What the world has previously called a leader might have been and most commonly was someone who can bring in the money, someone that looked at the bottom line,” she told Sky News.
“Because of the pandemic, you’ve noticed that we have required a different type of leader and what I truly believe is the ideal leader.
“Someone who is actually empathic, a visionary, irrepressible, that can sustain adaptability and all these factors that were required for people to survive a pandemic or anything of the kind".
Ms Rose said relatability is very important for leaders, but vulnerability is dangerous because it can make them a target. “If you’re relatable and you’ve been through something and you can relate to your team or to people around you that is very powerfu