Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the ACT will seek Commonwealth money for a commercial tenancy support package.
Mr Barr said the package would help businesses to negotiate rental relief in the territory, which has been plunged into a three-week lockdown.
Mr Barr's comments come after ACT Senator Zed Seselja urged the ACT to find a way to keep the construction industry working through the lockdown, and reiterated the Commonwealth's willingness to provide economic support to the territory.
Senator Seselja wrote to Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Tuesday to urge Mr Barr to engage with the Commonwealth on larger package of co-funded support.
"The Australian government remains committed to co-funding additional business support measures on a 50/50 basis with the ACT government should you develop further proposals," Senator Seselja wrote.
"I note that businesses in NSW are receiving greater support than in the ACT because of an arrangement by both the NSW government and the Australian government to co-fund greater support."
Mr Barr said he had spoken directly with federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and would put forward further proposals.
"Nothing the offer, we will seek to partner 50/50 with the Commonwealth to provide commercial tenancy support for businesses to negotiate rental relief in the ACT," Mr Barr said in a statement.
"The tourism sector is particularly hard hit."
Senator Seselja also used the letter, seen by The Canberra Times, to urge Mr Barr to reopen the ACT construction industry as quickly as possible with appropriate Covid safety protocols.
"Whilst I understand that there was an issue on an ACT worksite in recent days I would urge you not to allow this isolated incident to affect the entire industry, which to date has been very compliant with any measures put in place to allow them to work in a Covid safe manner," Senator Seselja wrote.
ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee also wrote to Mr Barr to urge the ACT progress towards a full reopening in the construction industry as soon as possible.
Mr Barr said on Tuesday work was under way with industries to allow them to recommence some activities, but it was not yet appropriate to relax restrictions.
Workers on a building site in Taylor were issued six infringements for breaching the territory's public health orders on Sunday. It was the highest number of daily infringements in the ACT since the pandemic began.
Chief police officer Neil Gaughan said: "We will be doing substantial workplace compliance with WorkSafe ACT in relation to construction sites across the territory to ensure people actually adhere to the health directions and stay at home."
