Victoria’s Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman says there’s “just too much that’s unknown” at the moment, and it’s placing additional strain on business owners whose reservoirs of cash and emotional resilience are already strained.

Bruce Billson says businesses desperately need more predictability and certainty about COVID-19 rules.

He says many were hit hard by strict isolation rules, which left them without staff, and while those have now been relaxed, businesses are still playing catch up.

Trying to find staff without international students and working holidaymakers also remains a significant problem.

“You’ve seen proprietors really working their tails off,” Mr Billson told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“Trying to get staff is a real challenge.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the strain on small business