Coronavirus Gold Coast: Business leaders fear struggling traders ‘will completely implode’ before Christmas

There’s been a dire warning from the Gold Coast’s biggest business lobby group as it battles to have restrictions on operators wound back. READ THE FULL STORY

“BUSINESSES will completely implode before Christmas”.

That is the dire warning from the Gold Coast’s biggest business lobby as it battles to have restrictions on operators wound back to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.

A small-scale outbreak has been detected in Greater Brisbane as borders remain closed, and there were three new active cases in Queensland – including two in Pimpama – confirmed on Friday.

Ms Palaszczuk said at the weekend restrictions outside impacted areas would not be toughened despite the outbreak but nor would they be wound back.

MUM’S TRAGIC FIGHT TO SAVE BORDER TWIN

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce boss Martin Hall said a hotly anticipated meeting with Small Business Minister Shannon Fentiman and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on Thursday was “all huff, no puff” and seemingly for show.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks with Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall. Picture: Richard Gosling

Mr Hall said there were no real solutions arising from the meeting, which came after the Bulletin revealed chambers of commerce in Queensland felt ignored by the State Government and wanted consultation. The Premier’s office phoned the Bulletin to advise of the meeting.

“It involved myself and a number of other chambers around the state. We all went in there very positive and open-minded,” Mr Hall said.

“Unfortunately, it was all huff and no puff. I think we were just there so they could say we were met with. There’s no outcome.

“We put our case forward about easing restrictions, how we need to be able to manage ourselves safely. There was nothing. We walked away with nothing unfortunately and there’s nothing in the economic recovery plan either.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young speaks at a press conference as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk watches on. Picture: Tara Croser.

Mr Hall wants the government to be more transparent about how its health advice is used to determine restrictions and other coronavirus countermeasures.

MORE NEWS

PUSH TO HAVE BORDER BUBBLE SHIFTED SOUTH

GRIM OUTLOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

BABY BOY AMONG STATE’S TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES

Meanwhile, the chambers are not the only representative bodies feeling snubbed.

Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said a lack of transparency from the government about how it implements health advice was “decimating business confidence”.

“It’s like we wake up one morning and the rules have changed,” Mr Long said.

“Bring us with you, don’t just stand up and say things are bad.

“We want health authorities to tell us exactly what criteria they are using to make decisions in regards to COVID and border restrictions.”

Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long.

The chamber has a COVID-19 sign-in app available for members and has also suggested a ‘live local, buy local’ voucher system to support city businesses.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk moved to limit private social gatherings in Greater Brisbane to just ten people following the outbreak. Limits of thirty people were placed on the rest of the state.

She will not implement tougher businesses restrictions – for the time being, at least – but said winding back restrictions was not on the cards either.

“We have no concern about that at the moment at all because the businesses have COVID-safe plans in place,” she said.

“This is a much different environment to where we were when the pandemic first started.

“The businesses have done a lot of work with the chief health officer and we are confident with the plans they have in place.”