Queensland business suffering mental and financial health crisis made worse by Covid uncertainty

A mental and financial health crisis is crippling Queensland’s business owners as the Premier delivers ‘throwaway lines’ while refusing to reveal how the state will emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

A mental and financial health crisis is crippling Queensland’s business owners as the Premier delivers ‘throwaway lines’ while refusing to reveal how the state will emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business confidence was crippled this week when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk rocked the state and left health officials “appalled” when she seized on children’s welfare as the reason she could not reveal a plan for reopening the state.

The government’s mixed messaging is a blow to mounting optimism the state was close to emerging from the pandemic, stakeholders say.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the sector was crying out for “a clearer path and more certainty” with operators now fearing the Christmas holidays would also be wiped out due to border closures and the threat of lockdowns.

“We cannot go on like this forever … the confidence of the industry is at an extremely low ebb,” he said.

“The elimination strategy of zero cases is not a sustainable model for us.

“The only thing that can get you through the dark days is a hope that there is a bright day ahead and at the moment there is not.”

Tourism QLD CEO Daniel Gschwind. (News Corp/Attila Csaszar)

Mr Gschwind said Queensland’s tourism industry was being supported by government assistance, but declared “no amount” of cash support could make up for the lack of organic business.

CCIQ Policy and Advocacy General Manager Amanda Rohan slammed the lack of direction offered to businesses.

“Businesses have been telling us all along uncertainty is fuelling a lack of confidence, both in their own ability to recover and also in the ability for the wider economy to get back to business – uncertainty created from throwaway lines made at press conferences and in parliament, uncertainty as to when and how borders will re-open and uncertainty around future snap lockdowns and restrictions,” she said.

“Border closures are crippling for business and consumer confidence but they would be less harmful if businesses were afforded some certainty as to what in store for them and what it will take for borders to reopen and the economy to recover.”

“Businesses know COVID recovery is a marathon but when the finish line is constantly moved it’s increasingly hard to stay in the race.”

Data from CreditorWatch reveals about 9 per cent of Queensland businesses are struggling to pay creditors.

Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged sectors across the state were “doing it tough” and said the government had paid almost $20m in grants to 1955 businesses under a joint package with the federal government.

Opposition Spokesman for Small and Family Business Brent Mickelberg. Picture: Caitlan Charles

“Queensland is positioned to be the strongest growing state on the east coast because we have managed the health response that is so critical to protecting and growing our economy,” she said.

Opposition Small Business spokesman Brent Mickelberg said the situation facing traders had created a mental health crisis.

“In order to be successful, many small business owners have poured everything into their business and too often they put themselves last,” he said.

“When it comes to mental health challenges, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“We’ve been living with Covid-19 for more than 18 months now and even the most resilient people are starting to struggle.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the national accounts revealed private investment in Queensland grew by 5.7 per cent in the June quarter.

“Growth in private investment shows that business has confidence in where Queensland is heading,” he said.