Victorian MLC Rod Barton says that sole trader businesses have fallen through the cracks in this pandemic, and need more help.

“Mostly, the distinct lack of business support appears to be because these businesses do not always employ staff in the traditional sense ,” Mr Barton said.

“Except for this fact, many run profitable, legitimate enterprises, are registered for GST and have overheads and outgoings just as any other operation.

“There have been thousands of sole traders who have not turned a dollar since March, yet their overheads have not diminished and all the while they are trying to keep a roof over their head and food on the table for their families.

Mr Barton, MLC for Eastern Metropolitan is seeking a commitment from the Victorian Government to review support packages to also include non-employing sole trader businesses, which can verify genuine full-time activity and turnover in the period prior to the pandemic.

“As a former small business owner, I understand the challenges in providing targeted support to those sole traders in general, however this is about fairness to all of the business community,” Mr Barton said.