COMPENSATION for vendors hit by the NSW container deposit levy will not be capped with 60 businesses invited to seek cash.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro subsequently met with Albury, Corowa, Deniliquin and Mulwala supermarket and bottle shop operators during a visit to the Border on Tuesday.
The NSW Nationals leader said he was wanting to work with businesses to tackle their concerns about losing out to Victoria where drinks are cheaper due to no container fee.
"We've set aside money to make sure we deal with the issue,” Mr Barilaro said when asked if there was a cap on individual payouts to traders.
"We've got a fixed budget we will work to, but this will be a moving feast.”
Albury IGA supermarket owner Bob Mathews said the traders were told in their meeting with Mr Barilaro, Small Business Commissioner Robyn Hobbs, Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish and Albury MLA Greg Aplin that there was no discussion of a cap.
“We’re all family businesses, so no cap is important,” Mr Mathews said.
“You wouldn’t want it at a relatively low figure, that would only be throwing biscuits at the birds.”
Mr Mathews said the meeting was told application forms for assistance were sent to 60 businesses along the Murray River from Wentworth to the east.
However, he believes that as many as 100 traders of packaged drinks may apply for help.
Applicants for compensation are required to supply details of gross profit margins before and after the implementation of the CDS as well as turnover and volume data.
“If it was volume (only) we may have struggled to get compensation it had to be profit (too),” Mr Mathews said.
“We could get $4.50 or $50,000, it’s a difficult thing to say.
“It’s cost us a lot, it’s cost us in excess of $100,000 in profitability but we won’t get that back.”
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