New data has revealed a shocking amount of Parramatta’s small businesses are without COVID-19 financial support, with language barriers and bureaucratic red tape to blame.
The figures obtained by Labor from Upper House questions on notice shows more than 93 per cent of small businesses in the Parramatta electorate have not received government financial assistance during the pandemic.
State Opposition Leader Jodi McKay joined Granville MP Julia Finn and Parramatta Councillor Sameer Pandey in ‘Little India’ Harris Park recently to speak to struggling business owners.
Ms McKay believes more needed to be done to support migrant businesses in multicultural communities.
“They aren’t targeting these multicultural communities and they are the small businesses that are really doing it tough,” she said.
Ms Finn said she was shocked to find some didn’t even know what help they were eligible for.
“It’s horrible when you tell someone that it’s available and they just don’t know where to start, they don’t just have an accountant to pay to go through it,” she said.
But language is not the only barrier.
Owner of A2B Sweets & Restaurant, Santosh Polepalle opened his business just four days after the cut off for government support in March.
With almost all of his staff base being international students, he has also been unable to receive JobKeeper.
“It has been really tough financially but these students aren’t eligible for benefits so they are relying on us and we must help them,” he said.
Mr Polepalle and an array of Harris Park businesses have been working with the Hindu Council at the Harris Park Community Centre to help feed international students currently out of work and unable to put food on the table during these challenging times.
But Acting Minister for Multiculturalism and Parramatta MP Geoff Lee said they have closely engaged with multicultural businesses and that the billions of dollars in funding support is for everyone.
“Support measures include $750 million in grants through the Small Business Support Fund, advice through Business Connect, payroll tax waivers and deferrals, rent relief for eligible businesses, and targeted support for heavily affected sectors,” he said.
“The Government has also supported multicultural organisations with $650,000 of immediate grassroots support grants.
“120 multicultural organisations received immediate support for community projects, including organisations and businesses in Parramatta and Harris Park.
“The project’s local helpline partnered with local businesses to support people experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.”
Mr Lee also noted the government’s investment in translation services to ensure key COVID business resources were available to all.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.