NSW Government Buy Regional Campaign Expanded To Help Bush Fire Affected Businesses

Shoppers wanting to directly support businesses in towns impacted by bushfire or drought can connect with sellers via the NSW Government’s Buy Regional webpage, which is now taking new business listings after delivering substantial sales in the lead up to Christmas.

Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said many businesses in bushfire affected towns are open, but trade is slow due to tourists avoiding destinations near fires and major road closures.

“The material and cash donations that continue to flow in from across Australia and around the world are truly amazing and are helping to provide immediate assistance to the thousands of people left homeless by destructive fires,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Even as fires continue to burn across the state, recovery work is already underway and an important part of this is helping local businesses keep their doors open, which in turn supports local jobs and keeps money circulating in the local community.

“The Buy Regional webpage makes it easy for people to find a wide range of items to buy from businesses in towns doing it tough, including areas that may not yet be quite ready for the tourists and visitors they will gladly welcome with open arms in the near future.”

Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope said a number of businesses in bushfire affected NSW already featured on Buy Regional across a variety of categories including food, wine, fashion, art and design, wellbeing and experiences.

“Whether you are buying snags and steaks from regional NSW for Australia Day, ordering delicious jams, honey, hampers or presents for Valentine’s Day, Easter, birthdays or anniversaries, I encourage you to Buy Regional,” Mr Tudehope said.

“I also encourage shoppers to continue the strong support for sellers in drought affected regions shown in the lead up to Christmas, off the back of the Buy Regional and Buy from the Bush campaigns.”

Business owners in both bushfire and drought affected areas across regional NSW can register for free by visiting www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional, which currently has more than 350 businesses listed and 435,000 page views.

Buy Regional features links to charity organisations and advocate partners such as Buy from the Bush, Thankful4Farmers and One Day Closer To Rain.

Tara Toomey said her business, The Humble Cook at Uralla, in partnership with 17 Northern Tablelands businesses, sold 2,000 Christmas hampers worth $150,000 via the Buy Regional webpage.

“The social benefit was enormous, everyone in town was buoyed that they had come together and made an effort that was so positive and it actually worked, people involved are now telling me we hope you can do that again and we’d love to help,” Mrs Toomey said.

For more information or to buy from regional businesses visit: www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional