The prime minister has just announced that everyone should stay at home unless going out for exercise or to purchase essential goods (food, medicine). However, there is still no directive to shut down non essential retail stores. This is completely contradictory and a nonsensical approach which not only endangers the health and wellbeing of Australians, but also doesn’t benefit most retail businesses or their employees. 

This is allowing large corporations such as banks, commercial landlords, and insurance companies to continue to charge their fees/rent/premiums as the small retailers does not have a mandate to close their business. This is causing a lot of unnecessary redundancies and uncertainty for both employers and employees. If we choose to shut down ourselves, that would be seen as a choice, and we would still be legally liable to continue to pay lease, insurance, bank fees and etc.

There needs to be clear and concise government direction that forces the shut down of all non-essential retail, and not leaving the choice to the retailers themselves. The health and wellbeing of retail employees and consumers need to be of the upmost importance. 

The government should make a clear and precise actionable directive and order a 1 month hard shutdown on everything non-essential. Freeze all interest for all loans (house, commercial, credit) which would also allow them to freeze all rent (residential and commercial) for the same duration.

We could have come out of this crisis in much better shape in a couple months time if the federal government stop pussyfooting around with weak enforcement policies. The restrictions in it’s current form could drag on for 6-8 months which will be even more detrimental to our society.

I have already chosen to shut down all my retail stores for the health and safety of my employees and customers. But retailers like myself are still forced to pay insurance, rent, interest, fees etc. These costs will not stop unless the government specifically forces retail to shut. I have spoken to my banks, commercial landlords and insurance companies and they require that direction before they can even start talking about freezes on fees, rent, premiums. I have about 20 employees (all of whom are Australian citizens) who are uncertain about their employment and I feel helpless right now as I am in the same position. Small businesses are now stuck between a rock and a hard place.

For the heath and wellbeing of all Australians as well as the viability of small businesses, I implore the PM to make that decision for us.