Bairnsdale beauty therapist, Domenica Ciappara, is a sole trader without employees, has closed her business? doors for the second time and is without State Government support during COVID-19.
In response to being left out of the government’s Victorian Business Support Fund, Ms Ciappara has instigated an e-petition on the Parliament of Victoria website, sponsored by Gippsland Nationals MP’s, including Melina Bath, who will table the petition.
“The reality is that sole traders are the majority of business owners,” Ms Ciappara, who runs Da Vinci Skin Clinic, said.
“The more I put this out there the more I?m realising there are so many stranded without assistance.
“I understand it would cost a lot of money to include sole traders but we’ve had relatively few active cases, and we’ve been forced to close with no support from the state government.
“It’s a blanket rule that doesn’t take into account individual circumstances of people or towns and regions.
“To me, it’s almost a slap in the face as a business owner. I pay taxes and GST but they’re not there to support me.”
Ms Ciappara has access to the Federal Government’s JobKeeper payment of $1500 a fortnight.
“That’s to keep the roof over your head and cover living expenses, not business expenses,” she said.
“As an example, the equipment finance I need to pay is $1000 a week. Every time I defer that payment, that figure increases.
“If you have a mum and dad business, only one of them can access Job Keeper, who’s responsible for the business expenses?”
Sole traders have been denied access to the fund because they don’t employ staff other than themselves, which Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Ms Bath, said was inequitable and unjust.
“Sole traders have outgoings and are no different to any other business, it defies belief that Daniel Andrews has deemed them ineligible to receive support,” Ms Bath said.
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said it was inconceivable that sole traders had been left out in the cold by the State Government.
“When sole traders contact the Business Victoria Hotline, they are dismayed to discover no help is available,” Mr Bull said.
“Small business is the backbone of our Victorian economy, Labor must step up and support sole traders.”
Ms Bath said she had been contacted by sole traders from all over the state since raising the issue in State Parliament last week and launching the petition.
“What has become apparent is Daniel Andrews’ decision to deny Victorian sole traders’ access to COVID-19 business support is disproportionately disadvantaging women and families,? Ms Bath said.
“Troublingly, the stories are all similar, each is juggling family, work and business financial commitments and their ability to generate income has been taken away due to no fault of their own.
“During the first COVID-19 upsurge ABS workforce data detailed the significant impact the pandemic is having on women and jobs and now we have the Andrews Government further disadvantaging working women during the second wave.
“Daniel Andrews must immediately extend the Business Support Program and provide COVID-19 support to include sole traders,” Ms Bath said.
Ms Ciappara said she would be working for the next year to pay for her business expenses.
“They really need to come up with something to support sole traders a bit more,” she said.
“The more people who sign this petition the better.”
Ms Ciappara?s e-petition is number 206 on the Parliament of Victoria website and a link to it can be found on the Da Vinci Skin Clinic Facebook page.
