By Dominique Tassell
Member for Southern Downs, James Lister, spoke in parliament last week about a lack of access for regional residents to funds meant to help them.
He first thanked the government for the Border Business Zone Hardship Grants for border communities affected by border closures.
He stated, however, that the grants are only applicable in two locations that do not cover all affected residents.
While residents in Goondiwindi and Wallangarra can access the funds, residents in the towns of Killarney, Warwick, Texas, and Stanthorpe “have been completely left out”.
“Businesses in those towns, which are impacted equally to those in Goondiwindi, Mungindi, or Coolangatta, have missed out entirely,” he said.
He called for Texas, Stanthorpe, Warwick, and Killarney to be included on this map “so that the very many small businesses and producers in those areas who are impacted by the prolonged border closure can also access the $5,000 grants”.
Mr. Lister highlighted the story of Ray and Connie Taylor from Taylor Family Produce. The family business grows leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, and capsicums.
He stated that they had fields prepared just over the border from Stanthorpe in Liston and had invested over $300,000 in preparing those fields.
“The border was shut- bang!
“They had to abandon that work and rapidly find another field that had to be prepared to produce tomatoes and capsicums to fulfill the contacts that they are obliged to meet.”
Mr. Lister stated that “$300,000is a very significant amount of money for any private individual or small business to wear while people like us- politicians- who are paid from the public purse suffer no financial disadvantage from having the border closed”.
“While this is a great initiative, we really need to make sure that the businesses that have been impacted are not constrained by a mere line on a map that means that they are not entitled to a $5,000 grant.
He stated that businesses in Texas such as the Spa supermarket, the Foodworks supermarket, the bakery, and the newsagent are all affected by the fact that the border is shut due to a significant decrease in business coming from New South Wales.
He also highlighted agronomists or contractors who have worked on the other side of the border, who have been cut off their markets.
“They are all suffering very badly,” Mr. Lister said.
He stated that if the intent of the grant was that such businesses should be eligible for the $5,000 grant, the map should be amended to include the towns of Killarney, Warwick, Texas, and Stanthorpe.
