Calls for State Government to waive gaming taxes

THE City Golf Club is calling on the State Government to go further in its support for community clubs and provide an industry-wide waiver of the gaming tax.

( From left ) Ed Britnell, president City Golf Club, David Janetzki and Trevor Watts discuss the future of the club. Thursday, 16th Apr, 2020. Picture: Nev Madsen

THE City Golf Club is calling on the State Government to go one step further in its support for community clubs and provide an industry-wide waiver of the gaming tax for at least six months.

At noon yesterday, the usually bustling City Golf Club's bistro and lounge was empty - a consequence of the Federal Government's COVID-19 restrictions.

But even with the State Government's recently announced deferral of gaming taxes, the club is still looking at a $200,000 bill down the track - and that's only for the month of March.

"That's a big sum when you've got no income," City Golf Club president Ed Britnell said.

"Our annual amount is around the four million mark. They're big numbers in anyone's league.

"Things are very, very tight, and of course we have to keep key staff on. We've previously stood down up to 150 of our staff.

"Rather than a deferral we would very much like (the tax) to be waived so that we can maintain some cashflow in these bad times so that when the time comes for us to re-emerge we'll be in a healthy state and be able to take off where we left off - or that's the hope."

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts said the State Government should be doing everything possible to support community clubs.

"Deferring tax is not going to help. It needs to be waived until such time as community clubs and pubs are back on their feet and operating," Mr Janetzki said.

The State Government earlier this week committed to gaming tax deferrals worth $50 million for pubs and clubs from March to June, as well as returning $1.4 million in taxes already collected for the month of March.

"This is part of a targeted package of deferrals to support pubs and clubs as best we can through this difficult period," Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D'Ath said.

"These measures come on top of the $22.7 million the government has already waived in liquor licensing renewal fees for 2020/21.

"We're also providing payroll tax deferrals and refunds, low interest loans and energy rebates to eligible businesses.

"We understand Clubs Queensland is working with clubs to tackle the challenges they face and we'll continue to engage with industry on any further support proposals going forward."

Originally published as Calls for State Government to waive gaming taxes