By Danielle Kutchel
An Akoonah Park Market stallholder who has been unable to earn an income over lockdown is pleading for help from the government or market committee.
Maria Stanganelli of Local Farmers Direct has been unable to trade through the market for many weeks, thanks to back-to-back lockdowns.
Local Farmers Direct usually trades at the Sunday market, selling fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms.
During lockdown five, she said she was told by the market committee that the market couldn’t run due to a Covid testing site operating on the grounds of Akoonah Park.
Between lockdowns five and six, the stallholder had one week of trading at the popular Sunday event.
However, when Melbourne descended into lockdown again, the Akoonah Park committee voted not to open the market because of the health risk – and Ms Stanganelli was out of work.
She said the business had been unable to receive any government support due to its nature as a fruit and vegetable retail outlet.
She said because fruit and vegetables are an essential service, the business doesn’t qualify for government support.
Ms Stanganelli said she had tried to run online orders but stopped as the process was costing the business money rather than providing enough income.
“We can’t earn anything. We’re banging our heads against a brick wall,” she said.
Her savings have been eaten away over successive lockdowns, and she’s been forced to put her loans on hold to try and alleviate the financial pressure.
“If we hadn’t put the home loan on hold, we would lose our home. That’s how bad things are,” she explained.
“Now is the time we need the government to help and act, not just for us, but other people falling through the cracks because it’s not fair.”
She’s calling on the government to adjust its business support and make it easier for businesses like hers to apply for and receive assistance over lockdowns.
“I don’t need to run a profit, just pay the bills,” she said.
She’s also asking the Akoonah Park committee to “wake up” and run an essentials-only market throughout lockdown to help local farmers and growers.
Similar markets have been held during previous lockdowns.
A Victorian Government spokesperson confirmed that Local Farmers Direct was ineligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program, but said another incoming business support program may provide assistance.
“We know some businesses have been caught in a situation where technically they can trade, but in reality they are prevented from doing so,” the spokesperson said.
“The $139 million Small Business COVID Hardship Fund has been created to cater for businesses that have been unable to access previous support programs.
“The fund will open this week and when it does, we encourage businesses that have suffered substantial reductions in turnover and have been ineligible for other programs to examine if they are eligible for this program.”
The hardship fund will provide payments of up to $8000 to businesses that have been ineligible for previous business support programs.
Businesses can register for the Business Victoria email service to be notified when the fund opens at business.vic.gov.au/news-and-updates
The Akoonah Park committee was unable to provide comment.
