Cairns Covid-19: Calls for more tourism operators to ‘put their hands up’ for cash support
A fraction of the much vaunted $600 million business support package trumpeted as a saviour for Far North businesses has been paid out, it has been revealed.
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A FRACTION of the much vaunted $600 million business support package trumpeted as a saviour for Far North businesses has been paid out, it has been revealed.
Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf has questioned why the Queensland Government was “spruiking” that $20m had been provided to the state’s small business community as part of the lifeline.
He estimated “less than $2m” has flowed to businesses across Cairns and the Far North, many of which are on their knees.
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“That’s a drop in the ocean in terms of the challenges out there, it’s just not enough,” he said.
“The money needs to flow and flow faster than it is now; it’s one of the main support packages for us and they’re spruiking $20m across the whole state.
“It’s disappointingly small.”
Cairns Labor MP Michael Healy said they can only stump up if businesses apply for the grant, saying not enough in the Far North have come forward.
The $600m package – jointly funded by the state and federal government – gives cash support of up to $30,000 to traders impacted by the harsh Covid lockdowns robbing Cairns of peak-season customers.
“We can only pay out what people apply for so the message is really clear, we need more tourism operators in this region who are struggling to apply,” he said.
“The cash is there, it’s ready to be paid but operators need to ask for it.
“We know there’s a lot hurting, so tourism operators in particular need to apply and we are pleading for them to do so.”
Mr Healy said he had reached out to tourism stakeholders to ask if the application process was fast enough.
Employment and Small Business Minister Di Farmer said “applying is straight forward” with template letters included in the process.
“I want to be really clear: any eligible business that applies will receive the grant,” she said.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsh questioned if the process could be streamlined.
The payouts are administered by the state government.
“I don’t think it’s as easy as what people think, it’s a bit clunky and difficult to access,” he said.
“Let’s be honest our businesses need more than one off grants and we understand that.
“Three flights from Adelaide is not going to cut the mustard until Christmas for tourism operators.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland boss Mark Olsen said struggling operators needed to “put their hands up” and accept some small relief.
“We understand that there is still a lot of money in the pot for business support up here and I can’t stress enough for people who are struggling to put their hands up,” he said.
“We know every little bit helps and it could be just enough to keep businesses afloat and get them to the school holidays.”
The grants are open until November 16.
It comes as the Far North Queensland Tour Operators Association renewed calls for a wage subsidy scheme to be introduced, saying there was “zero meaningful financial support” being offered.
The group has asked for a roundtable with both the state and federal treasurers Cameron Dick and Josh Frydenberg, demanding the industry hear “in the same room, with both governments” what can be done.
Pinnacle Tourism Marketing managing director Michael Nelson said the situation was “dire.”
“We’ve got another 3000 odd jobs on the line here and we honestly don’t know what other metric we need to put in front of them,” he said.
“Our tourism businesses and the jobs it supports is being sacrificed without any consideration from both these governments.
“We’ve booked a room and we are open to every option that both can present for wage support, we just need both treasurers to turn up.”
A petition to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, calling for a JobSaver style scheme, has received 1815 signatures.
Originally published as Cairns Covid-19: Calls for more tourism operators to ‘put their hands up’ for cash support
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