When Michelle Sullivan finally reopened her Molesworth Street business MP’s The Meeting Place last week, it was after a long and frustrating journey of dealing with fraud and theft.

Michelle had applied for post-flood grant funding after the February flood destroyed her CBD business. That’s when she realised her Australian Business Number (ABN) had been stolen.

Michelle had already applied for the first half of the $50K small business grant, so when her application for the second half of it was knocked back by Service NSW, she was stunned and surprised.

 “When I went to submit the application, Service NSW said I can’t apply, because it looks like you already have all of the $50K grant’,” Michelle said.

“But now, they’ve cleared it up through their IT and fraud department.

“The staff have been so helpful and next week I have help from them to start the application again – but the money would have been good weeks ago.

“I find it difficult to find out how people reopen without $50K in the bank,” she said.

More ABNs stolen

Michelle said Service NSW told her they had heard of “one or two” other cases of stolen ABNs being used to apply for grant money.

“This is the second fraud that has happened to us, Michelle said. “Service NSW asked me if we had applied for the $3K rates rebate. I said ‘no, but I’d love to’ and the lady started the application for that, but found someone else had already applied for it and they had already paid it out.

“The case is now with the Federal Police and is escalating to a fraud case.

Renovations

Getting the networking hub back open again without the grant money already in their pockets meant long weeks renovating the business themselves.

“Me, my husband and our parents worked nights and weekends to do the renovations,” Michelle said.

“It’s been exhausting and we had to find money ourselves – so far we are up to $68K in costs – and we are still waiting for the grant money.”

Office spaces available post-flood

Michelle first opened The Meeting Place in 2020 as a venue where people could have shared work places with private office spaces.

“We thought its really needed again right now because so many people are without an office after the flood,” Michelle said.

“We have 10 private office spaces and seven are now available.

“They are suitable for one occupant and are fully secured, each with its own fob key to the main entry and office. They have their own AC and are fully furnished with a desk, chair and lockable filing cabinet.

“They cost $125 a week and wifi and electricity are included- and the office gets cleaned twice a week.

“There’s also a cafe barrista at the door, and there are kitchen and bathroom facilities.”

History

The Meeting Place opened in 2020 when Michelle wanted to bring a space to Lismore like those she had seen in Melbourne.

“Lismore was becoming a funky town after the 2017 flood and was getting its jive back, with new shops cafes and restaurants,” Michelle said.

“It had a had a nice vibe and we loved it and thought it would be great to have a modern space in the CBD close to everything and shops.

“It’s heartbreaking what’s happened, but we have to keep going and hope for the future.”

If you are interested in hiring office space, you can phone Michelle on 0402 234 456 or email bookings@mpsthemeetingplace.com.au.

You can also visit the website https://mpsthemeetingplace.com.au/