[ad_1]
Due to the extended lockdown period in Brisbane, news of the Queensland school holiday program is mixed, and no new local cases have been recorded in Victoria.
• For the health and safety of the community, this coronavirus article has been unlocked and is free to read. Click here to access trusted news from Herald Sun and Leader in a fully digital format for only $1 per week for the first 12 weeks.
Victoria conducted 24,726 tests on Friday and no new local coronavirus cases were recorded.
Victorians planning a holiday in Queensland received mixed news on Friday morning as Governor Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Partially lift the blockade of the state.
The Brisbane City and Moreton City Council areas will continue to be closed for 24 hours until 6 pm on Saturday, while other locked areas in the state will open at 6 pm on Friday.
Ms. Palaszczuk announced that the blockade will end in a series of municipal areas, including Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Townsville.
But some restrictions in these areas will continue to exist, such as wearing masks.
“This is our current extra protection until everyone is vaccinated,” the governor said.
Three local cases of infection were recorded in Queensland on Friday.
More than half of Victorian businesses have applied Government lifeline Has not yet won a dollar in the latest round of recovery support.
The Herald Sun can reveal that more than 63,000 companies are waiting for more than a month Announcing a dedicated support package Help companies survive the fourth lockdown in the state.
Companies have received notice of the delay, which has triggered calls for automated systems to provide immediate grants to affected companies in the event of further lockdowns.
Of the 113,000 applications for support under the government’s commercial cost assistance program, 58,000 have been paid, totaling US$271.5 million.
More than one-tenth of applicants for licensed hospitality establishment funds have been paid, and 8,423 out of 9,500 applicants are waiting for a solution.
A Berwick cafe owner, who asked not to be named, was told that he expected to receive payment on Friday, and he was one of the first people to apply for the fund a month ago.
“I really appreciate it and don’t want to be treated as a complaint, but when you provide such support, you need to make sure that there is a proper process to ensure that it can happen,” he said.
A government spokesperson said that about 10,000 payments were planned overnight.
He said that the average payment will be completed within 10 working days, and companies will receive notice of delays.
Results are often delayed due to incorrect or incomplete information provided on the application form.
Bill Lang, executive director of Small Business Australia, said that companies from all walks of life reported that it would take weeks to wait for payment.
“For many hard-working parent business owners, this is a double insult. Not only are the promised grants disproportionately small compared to the losses they have suffered, but they are also now required to pay for wages, rent and other liabilities. , And all these expenditures were paid with zero income, without receiving a penny of the promised assistance,” Mr. Lang said.
“Since the pandemic, Australian small businesses have been calling for faster, fairer and direct support for business owners who shut down and open their livelihoods like government faucets, because we have entered a’preventive’ blockade era strategy. Business owners will be overwhelmed by repeated blockades, and the support provided to them must be substantial and direct.”
Wes Lambert, CEO of Restaurant and Catering Australia, said the organization can help any business that encounters delays.
Mr. Lambert said: “Most people in our industry who are eligible for funding have accepted it, and this will undoubtedly be a lifeline during the prolonged lockdown.”
“We hope that if there is a lockdown in the future, the Victorian government will adopt another commercial support plan.”
Paul Guerra of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry said these payments are critical to businesses.
“For those companies that are still waiting to apply, we expect to conduct assessments and payments quickly, because these support grants will not yield any benefits until they are paid,” Mr. Guerra said.
“If we can completely avoid lockdowns and restrictions, there will be no support fees and no further public debts. This is the ambition we need to move forward. There will be no more lockdowns. We need to launch sufficient vaccine supplies and special constructions. Quarantine facilities in order to enable Victoria to open with confidence.”
Border check flag 17 passengers
More than a dozen people have tried to enter Victoria without proper permits and have received warning notices.
Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said that more than 2,000 people were intercepted and inspected at the border between New South Wales and Victoria on Wednesday.
Among them, 17 people received warning notices.
“It is very important that we make sure that people bring the correct documents and return according to the correct principles, and they know what they need to do,” he said.
Of the 130 inspections conducted on Victorians subject to a stay-at-home quarantine order, two cases were referred for further action.
Mr. Weimar stated that the authorities are satisfied with the compliance level of a series of Covid-19 measures, including companies that use the QR code registration system.
Darwin and Alice Springs, southeastern Queensland and Townsville, including Magnetic Island and Palm Island, Greater Sydney, Shellharbour, Central Coast, Wollongong, Perth and Peel are now red under the Victorian Travel Permit System area.
[ad_2]
Source link
