Gold Coast businesses cheering continuation of JobKeeper as economy slowly recovers from worst of coronavirus crisis

The hotly anticipated extension of the sweeping economic package has been approved, giving businesses “more leeway, a bit more room to move, a bit more time to rebuild.”

BATTLING Gold Coast businesses and staff have been given a financial lifeline thanks to the Morrison Government’s decision to extend its critical JobKeeper scheme.

JobKeeper will continue on a reduced basis from September 27 to March 28, acting as a safety blanket for businesses and staff struggling in the coronavirus crisis.

Kurrawa Surf Club staff Sharni Cogswell, Hayleigh Studdon, Amber Collyer, Jessica Smith, Mark Edwards, Jarred Sharman and Erin Burns. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the unemployment hit has been dire, but would have been “catastrophic” without JobKeeper.

It was introduced by the Government to cover wages at $1500 per eligible employee each fortnight and was due to end in September.

Changes announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday included two payment tiers. The top rate of $1500 a fortnight will drop to $1200 a fortnight for eligible workers. Employees working less than 20 hours will be eligible for a $750 payment for several months.

The payments will lower again early next year to $1000 for the full rate, if an employee is working 20 hours or more each week, and $650 for less than 20 hours.

Eligibility requirements are also being tightened.

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Mr Hall said the extension was a boon.

“It’s fantastic news,” he said. “The cliff edge that was September was quite daunting for many if not all of the small businesses using JobKeeper. What it achieved was exactly what was needed to keep businesses incubated and to allow continuation when the time is right.

“It’s a reduced, staged and targeted continuation, but it’s still great.

“We’re going to segue straight from this to light rail Stage 3, so a lot of what we’re doing now will be part of the toolkit for how businesses are supported during construction.”

It comes a week after the Bulletinrevealed Coast families were set to lose about $75 million each week if JobKeeper was cut. In April alone, 27,454 businesses signed up for the subsidy.

Kurrawa Surf Club human resources manager Mark Edwards said the drinking hole had about 60 staff on JobKeeper and it had prevented job cuts.

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“We’re very pleased it’s extended,” he said. “It’ll give us a bit more leeway, a bit more room to move, a bit more time to rebuild.

“We’re only got a seating capacity of 200 people in the club, so we’re still 250 down on our potential (capacity). Revenue is just not enough with 200.

“Without JobKeeper, Broadbeach would be a ghost town. Half of the cafes are already shut down from the Comm (Commonwealth) Games.”

Kurrawa supervisor Jarred Sharman said JobKeeper ensured he and his colleagues could pay the bills and keep a roof over their head.

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He is working 38 hours a week on JobKeeper and his pay is topped up if he works more.

“It’s really good it’s continuing, it’ll help us a lot, help me a lot,” he said. “When I was only working one day a week I was still getting $750 a week, that really helped,” he said.

“It helps pay the bills you need to pay. Something needed to be in place, you couldn’t have people being kicked out of their house, ending up homeless.”

A Star Gold Coast spokesman welcomed the extension and said the group was looking forward to working with the Government on details.

The Star Gold Coast chief operating officer Jess Mellor. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Looking further ahead, the best news will come when further easing of restrictions will allow us to increase capacity so we can welcome back more of our workforce,” he said.

Star has 2500 workers on the Coast and 75 per cent were registered for JobKeeper.

CCIQ senior policy Adviser Gus Mandigora said: “In Queensland, we have regions heavily reliant on tourism and hospitality, such as the Gold Coast and Cairns, and for them normal operations are still a long way off.

“But a high percentage of local employment relies on those businesses keeping their doors open, and this extension will allow that to happen.”

Not all businesses and their workers are eligible. For example, staff at 12 pubs owned by Australian Venue Co (AVC) in the region cannot get JobKeeper.