Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Adding to an answer I gave today to a question from the member for Eden-Monaro, and in the same vein as the previous question, I'm sure the member for Eden-Monaro would like to know that the New South Wales government opened their program, which is funded by the federal government, in relation to small business recovery on 2 February 2020. Two hundred and nine expressions of interest had been received before the program opened and 68 applications have been received, with an average amount requested of $30,981 per grant.

For the information of other members, the Victorian program has not yet opened. It's expected to open this week. These programs are run by the state governments and funded by the federal government. One hundred and fourteen expressions of interest had been received by 5 February. For South Australia, that opened on 30 January 2020 with 14 grants totalling $329,435 paid so far, and they have approved a further five grants. In Queensland, there has been nil small business impact—this is my advice—with no grants program in place for Queensland at this point. The New South Wales loans opened on 3 February 2020, just a few days ago. That is also run by the New South Wales government. Queensland concessional loans opened on 3 February also, and guidelines are now being considered by South Australia and Victoria. I hope that information is helpful.