Despite continued promises that the Small Business Hardship Scheme would be rolled out in October, the Labor-Greens Government has broken yet another promise with applications for the scheme not opening until 15 November.

Shadow Minister for Business Leanne Castley asked a number of questions in Estimates hearings this week about when the scheme will be available for struggling businesses, but the Chief Minister was not forthcoming on when that would be.

“Not only were critical business support grant payments delayed and slow, but businesses have also been kept in the dark about when the hardship scheme would be rolled out,” Ms Castley said.

“The Labor-Greens Government promised struggling businesses the scheme would open in October and that has now been pushed out to the middle of November.

“For well over a month now the ACT Government business website has been spruiking this scheme will be ‘available in coming weeks’ with the government refusing to provide any real certainty.

“Businesses need this support as quickly as possible but time and time again the actions of this Labor-Greens Government show they simply do not care about Canberra businesses doing it tough,” Ms Castley concluded.