Under the current disaster assistance measures, small businesses have been known to slip through the cracks through funding delays, arbitrary rules and ambiguous information – as evident during the 2012 Queensland floods. Implications that are currently evident in Tasmania, with the Commonwealth and State government yet to activate disaster assistance for local businesses.
Despite a framework that is meant to cater for small business under Category B of the NDRRA, businesses themselves are limited to assistance in the form of further debt – albeit at a concessional interest rate – hard-to- come-by grants and the burdens of bureaucracy within government departments. Previous responses to catastrophes and their effects on business, primary producers and social infrastructure have been ad hoc, begging the question as to whether further Commonwealth measures are merited.
A national approach to small business disaster assistance is necessary. The Commonwealth has the resources. It’s also necessary because of jurisdictional discrepancies. Encouragement for people to get back on their feet – and stay upright – shouldn’t depend on where your business and community are located.
What we need for starters is a national dialogue about preparing for emergencies and about recovery. Resilience isn’t a matter of welfare or growth of a national disasters bureaucracy. Instead, it involves tough strategic thinking and a willingness to consider economic and social sustainability. If the small businesses disappear with the cyclone, flood or fire there may be little point rebuilding houses and schools. Resilience may mean innovative support for regional small business in the first years after a disaster … support that makes economic sense.
Let’s not be afraid to ask some questions. Should we ensure small businesses and primary producers have access to one-off non-means tested assistance similar to that for individuals? Is episodic Commonwealth spending on infrastructure a good substitute for essential (but less headline-grabbing) post-disaster assistance to small business?
All governments have embraced rhetoric about disaster resilient communities. With pundits and parliamentarians going back to work amid smoke from the regions it’s time to be creative. Ms Roxon – responding to her predecessor’s biting criticisms – has taken shaky steps towards disaster resilience.
Let’s talk about sustaining communities – and not just resilient communities – after the flames and media releases have disappeared.
Bruce Arnold is a lecturer in the Law Faculty at the University of Canberra. Ryan Roberts is completing a bachelor of law at the University of Canberra School of Law, and is currently in his fourth year of studies. This article first appeared on The Conversation.
