Coronavirus Qld: Businesses demand road map to recovery

With a tentative lifting of coronavirus restrictions on the horizon, Queensland businesses are saying there is one essential step to get things back up and running, or there could be even more damage to the state’s battered economy.

BUSINESS is demanding that the State Government produce a detailed recovery road map so owners can begin the painstaking process of restocking and restaffing their mothballed operations.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland has warned that an ad hoc and sudden approach towards lifting restrictions would risk ­further harming to the state’s battered economy.

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The influential lobby group, which has tens of thousands of members across the state, has argued a plan that outlines the next steps around lifting restrictions would keep customers informed and restore confidence of operators.

“Understandably, over the last few weeks the Palaszczuk Government has had to make quick decisions and businesses have done their best to adapt,” CCIQ general manager of advocacy and policy Amanda Rohan told The Courier-Mail.

“But mixed messaging has caused confusion and businesses need clarity moving forward, especially in regards to what the next phase is concerning lifting restrictions.

“For some confidence to return, the Palaszczuk Government need to start sharing what their next steps are, as many businesses are making decisions week by week, or day by day, as they do not have cash flow coming in, many are just hanging in there.”

The comments come after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on the weekend that several restrictions would be eased within days, however, none of the measures involved reopening businesses forced to shut their doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the changes to begin from Saturday, people will be allowed to go for a drive of up to 50km from home, ride a motorbike, jetski or boat for pleasure and visit a national park.

The Premier also announced people would be able to shop for non-essential items such as clothes and shoes, even though many operators have continued to trade throughout the crisis.

However, the Government has not yet announced when it will make decisions around reopening those businesses that have been forced to close, such as hotels, restaurants and cafes, arguing any move to lift restrictions would have to be based on advice from health authorities.

Asked yesterday whether her administration would produce a guideline for when it might lift restrictions, Ms Palaszczuk said it was vital that people download the Federal Government’s contact-tracing tracking app COVIDSafe.

“It is critical and one of those paths to recovery is this app,” she said.

“It’s for your safety and the safety of others.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the Government would this week write to retail outlets that were allowed to trade to remind them of social distancing rules.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called for the relaxation of restrictions for cafes and restaurants as he announced The Spit would reopen today.

Long-serving federal backbencher Andrew Laming, a former infectious disease researcher, accused Ms Palaszczuk of lifting recreational restrictions for political purposes.

“It is the ban on people going to work that should be lifted now,” he said.