In total, 26 per cent of businesses have been affected either ‘A great deal’ (seven per cent), ‘Somewhat’ (10 per cent) or ‘A little’ (nine per cent) by the bushfires. Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of businesses have been unaffected by the bushfires according to Roy Morgan’s snap SMS survey of 1308 Australian businesses.

 

An analysis of the industries most heavily impacted shows that over a third of businesses in the accommodation and food services sector, which includes travel and tourism, said they have been affected ‘A great deal’ – higher than any other industry, while a third of businesses in the transport, postal and warehousing sector said they have been affected to some extent.

 

Businesses in Queensland and NSW have been the hardest hit with 12 per cent of Queensland businesses and 11 per cent of NSW businesses affected ‘A great deal’ by the bushfires – far higher than any other States.

 

For the seven per cent that said the business has been affected ‘A great deal’ by the bushfires common impacts cited include ‘Cancelled bookings and events’, ‘Lack of access to the business or properties because of the fires’, ‘Staff not available for work because of diversion to fighting fires’, ‘Air quality’ and ‘Smoke haze’, ‘Lack of tourists’ and some have been ‘Burned out entirely’.

 

The 10 per cent who said their business has been ‘Somewhat’ affected by the bushfires mentioned ‘Loss of income’, ‘Employees sick from smoke’, ‘Employees called away for reserve duty/fighting fires’, ‘Employees unable to get to work’, ‘Customers depressed and sad’ and ‘Cancellation of jobs’.