WESTPAC Group has reiterated its support for consumer and small business customers hit hard by severe weather and flooding in Queensland.

Westpac Group offers tailored support for impacted customers including loan deferrals for up to three months and emergency credit card relief.

Small business customers who meet the eligibility criteria can also apply for $3,000 in cash grants per customer group to help with urgent expenses or repairs as part of Westpac’s $2 million flood support fund launched earlier this year. The Fund is still open and has already helped more than 550 small business customers.

Westpac chief customer engagement officer for consumer and small business, Ross Miller said as Australia continued to feel the impact of severe weather events the bank was "here to support customers in need".

“While this is still an evolving situation, we encourage any customer feeling the impact of the floods in Queensland to give us a call," Mr Miller said. "We have our bankers and phone support teams available to work through a tailored financial solution to help get our customers back on their feet.

“Our flood fund had already assisted hundreds of small business customers who have needed emergency funds to help with urgent repairs and clean up, to help pay staff or restock the shelves.  We now want to offer this support to Queensland businesses who have been impacted by the latest floods,” Mr Miller said..

Emergency support for Westpac and St George customers:

• Affected customers with home loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.
• Affected credit card customers may apply to defer repayments to their card for up to 90 days.
• Affected customers wishing to purchase replacement goods may apply for a personal loan at a discounted interest rate with no establishment fee.
• Waived interest rate adjustments for affected customers wishing to withdraw term deposits.
• Affected customers experiencing hardship may also be offered a halt on all interest accrual on unsecured credit products for a period of up to three months.
• Affected customers with business loans may apply to defer repayments for up to three months.
• Affected businesses with existing loans can request loan restructuring without incurring the usual bank establishment fees.
• Affected business customers with merchant facilities are eligible to receive assistance, including monthly terminal access fee refunds for up to three months

To access financial assistance:

• Westpac consumer customers can apply online or call Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497. Business customers who need support can contact their Relationship Manager or call Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497.
• St.George consumer customers can apply online or call St.George Assist on 1800 629 795. Business customers who need support can contact their Relationship Manager or call St.George Assist on 1800 629 795.
   

Flood grants eligibility criteria:

The flood grants are available for existing small business customers in NSW and Queensland in flood impacted postcodes who have experienced significant damage to, or destruction of, income-producing assets as a result of the floods.

This could include business premises, equipment and loss of stock or livestock. Additional eligibility criteria apply.

• For emergency assistance in severe weather, contact the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500, or call 000(triple zero) for life-threatening emergencies.

ends

NOMINATIONS are now open for the prestigious Melbourne Awards, recognising the positive contributions of individuals and organisations to the local community. 

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said this year's Melbourne Awards would mark 20 years of celebrating locals shaping the city for the better. 

“The Melbourne Awards are our city’s highest accolade, recognising the talented Melburnians who make extraordinary contributions to our community," Cr Capp said.

“Over the past two decades, we’ve been shining a light on the incredible work of so many Victorians who have gone above and beyond to drive innovation, create inclusive communities, ignite our creative sector and share ideas about the future of our city. 

“Our people make our city the great place that it is, and we want to showcase their efforts. If you know an inspirational Melburnian, nominate their work for a Melbourne Award.” 

There are eight categories for the 2022 Melbourne Awards: 

• Community – celebrating projects and activities that enhance the wellbeing of residents. 
• Knowledge and Innovation – recognising bold ideas shaping the city’s bright future. 
• Arts and Events – highlighting work to build Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital. 
• Urban Design – showcasing projects and organisations that are shaping the city’s skyline. 
• Hospitality – acknowledging the restaurants, bars and hospitality venues creating unforgettable experiences. 
• Sustainability – focusing on positive contributions to the environment and initiatives that educate, connect and inspire others. 
• Aboriginal Melbourne - Ganbu Guljin – promoting work that improves cultural understanding and supports the Aboriginal community. 
• LGBTIQ+ – shining a light on efforts to support and promote diversity, social connection and participation.

Previous Melbourne Award winners include the creators of compostable cling wrap, the developers of an app to support health care workers, and a program supporting Aboriginal art in prison. 

Applications for the 2022 Melbourne Awards are open from May 2 to June 30. For more information or to nominate someone, visit the Melbourne Awards website. 

Winners will be announced at the Melbourne Awards ceremony in November as part of a special televised broadcast on Channel 9. 

ends

RISING interest rates will put additional pressure on vulnerable Australians already struggling to survive as prices surge, wages stagnate and safe, secure housing slips further from reach.

St Vincent de Paul Society national president Claire Victory said, "Today’s rate rise will be another kick in the teeth for Australians living in poverty, who are already stretching every dollar to its limit.

"The surging cost-of-living, shortage of affordable housing, increasingly insecure work and stagnant wages are making it all-but impossible for a growing number of Australians to survive.

"Today’s interest rate hike will add to these pressures and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable people in the community, who are already struggling to get by, often with limited family or social support networks," Ms Victory said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society has released a suite of simple, compassionate and affordable polices in the lead up to the federal election and is urging parties and candidates to put Australians in need at the heart of their campaigns.

The cost of implementing these policies involves modest reforms to superannuation and taxation, asking only the most well-off and able to afford it, to pay a little more, according to the Society.

"Vinnies has stood by Australians in need for more than 170 years, providing emergency relief, housing, and other support services," Ms Victory said.

"Our election statement, A Fairer Australia, is informed by our members' experience meeting and helping Australians in need, and offers practical solutions to address widening inequality in households and communities, and lift many people out of poverty.

"We are calling on parties and candidates to take urgent action in the remaining weeks of the campaign to support Australians living in, or at risk of falling into, poverty," Ms Victory said.

More information on Vinnies' plans for A Fairer Australia and a fairer tax and welfare system: www.vinnies.org.au

ends

THEE $220 million announcement by the Federal Government to support Aussie timber production, manufacturing and research is good news for builders, according to Master Builders Australia.

“Master Builders has been calling for this type of action to address timber shortages in the future and boost local industry capability,” Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said.

“The acute shortage of timber and reliance on imports to meet excess demand has contributed to massive spikes in the price of timber.

“We do not have enough planation timber to supply housing needs in the future,” Ms Wawn said.  

“It’s in Australia’s national interest to secure our local timber supply by ensuring our timber plantation stock can meet future housing demand.

“A joint report released last year by Master Builders Australia (MBA)  and the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) shows Australia is headed towards a major cliff in timber framing production, concluding we will be 250,000 house frames short by 2035 – the equivalent of the cities of Newcastle and Geelong combined,” she said.

“In Australia, there is one company in WA manufacturing laminated veneer lumber (LVL) timber. We should have the local capability here in Australia to do more manufacturing of structural engineered wood products.

“More also needs to be done to address shortages, cost increases and delays causing the current cost and cashflow crunch being experiencd by the industry,” Ms Wawn said.

In response to trades and materials pressures facing the construction sector, Master Builders is seeking the following from government:

• · Incentives to improve sovereign capacity in product supply.
• · Better coordination with industry, states, and territories to facilitate greater investment in softwood plantations to meet long-term structural timber needs.
• · Government taking a more active role in enabling trade access arrangements for imported building products.
• · Investment in and boosting Australian building product manufacturing and product appraisal/traceability capabilities.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

ends