A cash injection for small businesses should be part of the federal government's coronavirus stimulus package, Indi MP Helen Haines says.
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As of Friday morning, she had not seen the legislation that will be introduced to Parliament on Monday, but hoped it would support businesses during what could be months of uncertainty.
"What I'd like to see is an immediate cash injection into small businesses who really face great challenges with cash flow," she said.
"I'm also hearing from small business owners that are really concerned about having to put staff off.
"That's their last resort, they don't want to do that.
"Anything that the government can do to support wages in small businesses is going to be extremely welcome."
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The stimulus package is expected to pass in Parliament on Monday or Tuesday.
Dr Haines will attend, as will Farrer MP Sussan Ley as one of the reduced number of government MPs, but there will be no other business.
"If Parliament has to shut down for safety reasons, then of course I support it shutting down," Dr Haines said.
She said the government also had to help communities still rebuilding after the bushfires, which have now lost the Easter tourism trade they were relying on to have cash injected back into the economy.
"I am very worried for our bushfire communities," she said.
"Not only are we facing an unprecedented situation with coronavirus, but we're in a community that's had the double-whammy.
"We're recovering from bushfire and I want to make sure that our government and my fellow MPs understand how important it is that the recovery monies come through to our communities, that there's reduced amount of red tape in administering those recovery packages and that people in our communities get the help they need as fast as they can."
The government has asked people take advice on washing hands and staying 1.5 metres away from others in public.
"At times where people are nervous and anxious, the best thing to do is to follow advice," Dr Haines said.
"I've spent much of my life working in health care, I know we can get through a situation such as this if we remain sensible and if we take personal responsibility."