COMMUNITY pharmacies in Victoria that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 may be able to access secure rent relief under a State Government program.
The Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme launched by Victorian Minister for Small Business, Jaala Pulford, yesterday, will require landlords to provide proportional rent relief in line with a business's reduction in turnover.
To access the program, businesses must have an annual turnover of less than $50 million and have experienced a 30% decline in turnover as a result of the pandemic.
"Victorian businesses have played a key role in the effort to keep us safe -- making enormous sacrifices -- and many of them are doing it really hard," Pulford said.
"As we emerge from lockdown, this is exactly the right time to provide relief for those businesses that need extra assistance to get back on their feet.
"We're calling for good-faith negotiations between tenants and landlords, and the hardship fund will mean landlords who find reasonable common ground will be supported."
As part of the State Government's package, an $80 million hardship fund will be established to support landlords who provide relief to eligible tenants.
Pulford also urged businesses and landlords to enter negotiations directly, with the Victorian Small Business Commission available to mediate in situations where the parties cannot reach a deal.
The scheme has come too late for one Melbourne CBD pharmacy owner, who was given two weeks' notice and evicted by her landlord in Oct 2020 (PD 26 Oct 2020).
However, a number of pharmacies could benefit from the scheme, with Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, telling Pharmacy Daily that despite being among the few businesses to be able to remain open throughout lockdowns, many pharmacies have been hit hard by the pandemic.
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