From mid July in NSW, through the state government, the federal government has half funded Job Saver. This is essentially a re-branded version of Job Keeper, made for NSW, but no other state or territory, apparently.

Given extend lockdowns in the ACT and Victoria, it does not make sense to me that the federal government would not put in place similar arrangements.

Here is the announcement about the NSW program from the federal treasurer’s page:

Small and medium business support payments

From week four of the lockdown, the Commonwealth will fund 50 per cent of the cost of a new small and medium business support payment to be implemented and administered by Service NSW.

Eligible entities will receive 40 per cent of their NSW payroll payments, at a minimum of $1500 and a maximum of $10,000 per week.

Entities will be eligible if their turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two week period in 2019.

The new small to medium business support payment will be available to non-employing and employing entities in NSW, including not for profits, with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.

To receive the payment, entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021.

For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.

Businesses can register their interest from 14 July 2021 at Service NSW.

The assistance will cease when current lockdown restrictions are eased or when the Commonwealth hotspot declaration is removed.

I am drawing attention lion to this today in response to contact from several retailers doing it tough in lockdown with almost no support available for their businesses.

The Covid situation in Australia right now flows from NSW failures to suppress the Delta strain. Their approach, endorsed by the federal government, has placed us where we are. It is for this reason I think the federal government needs to step up and provide base level funding for businesses with even a modest decline. Doing so would be a boost to business owner and consumer confidence, which is something the country needs right now given the prospect of another recession.

I appreciate this is a political topic. It is also a personal topic for businesses owners in Victoria and the ACT, as well as business owners elsewhere that sell into NSW, ACT and Victoria. One WA based business owner I spoke with 2 days ago is down almost 70% because their customers on the East coast are not ordering. It is stories like this that make it a federal government issue.

If only there was leadership for average people and small business owners, and not just the big business groups.

Australia Post has just announced a temporary suspension of parcel pickup in NSW, Act and VIC;

Temporary suspension of Parcel Post collections in NSW, ACT & VIC

Dear  ,

Thank you for your ongoing partnership with Australia Post.

As you know, across the country we are all managing the sustained challenges of the COVID pandemic. With two of our largest States and some 15 million people in lockdown, the fluctuations in customer online shopping have significantly increased.

We are also dealing with the impacts of the Delta strain and in any given day, we have close to 500 people out of our workforce as they follow necessary self-isolation and testing before clearance back to work.

This is putting increased pressure on our network like nothing we have experienced before, as we manage staff shortages, temporary facility closures, and parcel volumes as high as Christmas peak period.

To help us clear excess parcel volumes in NSW, ACT and VIC due to these impacts, we will be suspending customer collections in these areas.

All Parcel Post collections from customers and merchants in NSW, ACT and VIC will be paused from 7am Saturday 4 September until 7am Tuesday 7 September.

The safety of our people is our highest priority and this temporary measure will allow us to responsibly clear record volumes in parts of our network.

Our team will be processing all weekend to reduce these volumes to a safe and manageable level and help free up capacity with ULDs and pallets.

Services provided for Express Post, Premium and Startrack Express remain unchanged across our network. Lodgements at Post Offices and SPB’s will also continue to be collected and collections in all other States remain the same.

Normal medical shipments (normally lodged Parcel Post) will still be accepted subject to confirmation and by arrangement.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may place on you and your customers. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these challenges together.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries via your Account Manager and continue to check auspost.com.au/service-updates for the latest information on impacts across our network.

Stay safe,

I feel for the LPOs in areas impacted by this and what iOS coming their way in terms of customer frustration.

Father’s Day 2021 will different to what people expected. Plenty thought 2020 was disrupted. 2021 will be even more so in some parts of Australia.

Local newsagencies offer wonderful opportunities for celebrating dads, grandfathers, friends, include, step-dads and mentors this Father’s Day. I urge anyone shopping for Father’s Day cards an gifts this year to consider their local newsagency and here’s why:

• Newsagency businesses are 100% local. Locally owned. Locally run. What you spend is more likely to stay within the local community.
• Newsagency businesses offer Father’s Day cards that support charities. Charities like RU OK?, which do wonderful work in the community.
• Newsagency businesses have the best range of cards, usually more than you will see elsewhere. From fun to serious, Fram dad to pa to pop to grandpa to uncle to step-dad, the caption range is excellent.
• Newsagency businesses often have gifts to go with the cards. Plenty of them have Australian made cards and gifts, too, which further serve the local community. If you are not sure what to give, ask for help.
• Newsagency businesses are likely to offer easy shopping, grab and go. Plenty have father’s day gift bundles made up, ready for treats for Dad.

Shopping early for Father’s Day is good because you get to choose from the broadest range. Then, you have time to post the card and gift.

So, when shopping for Father’s Day cards and gifts this year, consider your local newsagency. They would be grateful to get your business and do their best to serve your needs.

What an odd letter given what the company has published / broadcast over the last year and a half.

You only have to look at the shouting from News Corp to the Victorian government Andy who support them through 2020 and plenty of 2021, or watch Sky News After dark, or read The Australian or read opinion pieces by Dolt and others to see my point.

With newsagencies open in areas under lockdown due to Covid, it’s important that we do so in a way that respects the opportunity. Having gone through this 5 times already and now into lockdown 6, here is what we have found works for us, the community and nearby retailers who are closed:

• Retail as a service. You’re open because you are essential, not to overtly take a position against a competitor.
• Make shopping easy. Reduce clutter. Put sought after items at the front. Make shopping easy for grab and go.
• Make it safe. Have face masks and hand sanitiser next to your QR code check in at the entrance and at the counter.
• Offer click and collect. Either through your website or for phone orders, offer to bring the items to the shop door for easy collection.
• Play happy music.
• Don’t do awesome VM displays. Be practical.
• Be grateful to customers and grateful on social media.
• Reduce promotion of non essential products on social media.
• Keep the counter cleaner than ever.
• Give staff what they need: free masks, breaks for washing hands, time to recharge.

If there are retailers nearby that can’t open with considerable stock they are worried about, maybe offer to help them move some of that stock. I mention this for areas where the lockdown is extended.

While it is terrific having a shop that is permitted to be open during Covid lockdowns, it can be a curse sometimes with how others, competitors and customers, see you. This is why it is important that we trade in a way that is respectful of the unique situation and thoughtful of others.

There are many businesses outside of New South Wales that are experiencing financial challenges because of the NSW Covid mess. These are businesses that usually derive considerable revenue from selling to NSW businesses.

Talking with a couple of retail business suppliers this week, they say that orders from NSW clients have all but stopped for the last 4 to 6 weeks. If they supplier businesses were in NSW, they’d qualify for significant financial support. Since they are outside of NSW and not in a lockdown area, they are not eligible.

One supplier told me that this lockdown in NSW is different to what they have seen through Covid til now in that it is the first time there has boon such a drop in orders from retailers.

NSW retailers are, naturally, being cautious with ordering. This is impacting their suppliers, plenty of whom are located outside of NSW. This is where the current financial support grant process is challenged.

It’s time for the federal government to see the NSW mess from a federal lens.