Gold Coast tourism firms to join state protest at border block

Bleeding Gold Coast tourism and small business operators are planning a statewide protest parade through visitor hubs to pressure the Premier to open the border.

Gold Coast operators are planning to join a statewide protest against ongoing border blocks. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

BLEEDING Gold Coast tourism and small business operators are planning a statewide protest parade through visitor hubs to pressure the Premier to open the border.

Gold Coast operators on the brink will join Sunshine Coast and Cairns peers in a show of force next week to send a message to decision makers to pull back on unprecedented restrictions aimed at halting coronavirus.

Those behind the “peaceful” protest on the Gold Coast hope it will send a clear message to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about how vital it is for the border to be reopen by July.

It’s understood a Gold Coast protest would snake through visitor hubs from Main Beach down Tedder Avenue to Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast tourism operators Sarah Colgate (Aquaduck), Michael Gilmore (Jetboat) and Anthony Ardern (Whales in Paradise) plan joining a statewide protest about border closures. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Those on board on the Gold Coast include activity operators Jetboat Extreme, Whales in Paradise and Aquaduck who fear missing out on winter and school holiday trade if the border block stays until September, which Premier Palaszczuk’s health adviser has called “realistic”.

In a statement, Gold Coast booking agent Experience Oz - which is co-ordinating the protest - said operators anticipate Ms Palaszczuk will not reopen Queensland borders on Sunday when she is expected to reveal some eased restrictions.

“There is growing concern many tourism businesses (mostly small businesses) will be unable to survive if interstate travel is blocked until September. The winter season is a peak period for interstate travel into Queensalnd, with southerners looking to escape the colder weather and visit the sunshine state,” the statement said.

Michael Gilmore of Jetboat Extreme: “I’ve lost 100 per cent of business. I’ve had a lot of financial stress and pressure. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

The Gold Coast’s tourism industry is worth $6 billion a year with two more months of border restrictions estimated to cost $500 million to the city’s economy.

Jetboat Extreme owner Michael Gilmore said he was forced to close at the end of March and won’t be able to trade again until the borders reopen.

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“I’ve lost 100 per cent of business,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of financial stress and pressure.

“Almost half of my staff have gone. I’ve let four go and I have five on JobKeeper.”

Mr Gilmore, who has run the popular Surfers Paradise attraction for 17 years, feels it is “100 per cent” critical for the borders to reopen to ensure his business survives.

“It’s the only thing that is going to save us. They need to do it sooner rather than later,” he said.

Anthony Ardern of Whales in Paradise: “More than 50 per cent of our business is relied on interstate travel.” Photograph: Jason O'Brien.

“If the borders aren’t open, we’re all in trouble. Most of our tourism isn’t international, but domestic. They’re coming from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“I’ve been through all sorts of pilot strikes, financial crisis, and everything. But nothing like this.

“It’s very frustrating to think you can go to Bunnings and join about 100 people walking around the store but I can’t run my business with 14 people.

“We are one country, (states) are not different countries. They really need to get the borders open so we can survive.”

Whales in Paradise owner Anthony Ardern said he was gutted when he had to stand down 85 staff but was able to keep 35 on $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper support.

But Mr Ardern is still unable to trade and hopes a mass protest will push Ms Palazczuk to reopen borders.

“More than 50 per cent of our business relies on interstate travel,” he said. “The ultimate outcome would be for the Queensland government to open up the borders and get them open for trade for tourism operators throughout Queensland.

“The one frustrating thing is the Federal Government is saying there is no medical reason why the borders should be closed. It just seems to be some of the states are taking a strong and more aggressive stance on it.”

The Queensland border was closed from midnight Wednesday March 25. It was the first time since the Spanish flu in 1919.

Premier Palaszczuk’s chief health adviser Dr Jeanette Young has said July reopening would be “unlikely” while September was “more realistic” but could not be guaranteed.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has said “I back the Premier” on border closures and not reopening until it is deemed “safe”.