Border and new home grant calls as QLD worst hit by job crisis

The Queensland construction industry fears it could lose as many as 100,000 jobs as a report shows the Sunshine State has more electorates with 9 per cent job losses or more than any other state.

QUEENSLAND has been disproportionately hit by coronavirus job losses, with the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast copping the brunt of the blow, sparking calls for the borders to reopen and an urgent construction stimulus.

There are fears it will get worse before it gets better, as construction contracts start to dry up.

Some good news is on the way with the Federal Government expected to announce a new housing grant later this week.

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The Federal Government is expected to announce new homebuyer grants later this week. Picture: Supplied

A Grattan Institute report taking in March 14 to April 18 revealed there were job losses of more than 10 per cent in the Sunshine Coast electorates of Fairfax and Fisher, while three Gold Coast electorates were hit with 9 per cent increase in unemployment.

There were more electorates with 9 per cent job losses or more in Queensland than any other state.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said the state needed to reopen its borders by its original July 10 time frame or risk missing the tourism wave.

“If we don’t act soon we will have to rebadge ourselves, ‘beautiful one day, closed the next’,” he said.

The report indicated the highest job losses came from areas reliant on tourism and hospitality.

Mr O’Brien warned the job situation was likely to get “worse before it gets better”, as construction contracts start to dry up.

He also called for Federal Government action to help stimulate demand in the construction sector, amid evidence work in drying up in the vital industry.

There is talk in Canberra that the Government will announce a new homebuyer grant as early as this week.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien said the job situation on the Sunshine Coast will get worse before it gets better unless the state border is reopened and construction jobs are stimulated. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Master Builders Queensland boss Grant Galvin said the flow on effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on the construction industry would hit from August through to December without stimulus, with as many as 100,000 jobs at risk without help.

“We need urgent stimulus now to get it up and running,” he said.

He said a “new homebuyer grant” rather than first homebuyer grant was needed, because the former group was more likely to spend during the downturn than those looking at a property for the first time.

It comes as Attorney-General Christian Porter warned upcoming industrial relations reform, which will bring together union and employer groups over the next four months, was unlikely to please all parties.

“The purpose is to find the best compromise position. It may be a position that not everyone absolutely loves,” he said.