How we can support businesses losing out in SEQ lockdowns

Toowoomba businesses have lost thousands of dollars in revenue thanks to a lockdown in the southeast corner of the state. Here’s how you can help them.

THE economic shockwave of southeast Queensland Covid lockdowns have hit Toowoomba businesses so hard, that some owners fear it will take them five years to fully recover.

Toowoomba catering business owner Carmel Tulloch said the financial strain throughout the past 18 months of intermintent lockdowns will take her business Catering People five years to fully recover from.

“But guess what?” she said.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Following southeast Queensland’s lockdown mandate, which ended on Sunday, Ms Tulloch said her business had lost thousands of dollars in revenue.

Several other events are hanging in limbo.

“It’s very, very difficult for small business at the moment because we’re going into 18 months of lockdowns,” Ms Tulloch said.

“Those of us hanging in there are suffering.

“Not just financially but mentally as well.”

Carmel Tulloch, the CEO from Catering People

Ms Tulloch said lockdowns are just something that has become part of her business plan, given the events of the last 18 months.

“It is harder and harder to do a proper cashflow but my thoughts are I still need to do a two year projections, but factor in lockdowns,” she said.

The business owner said beyond the doom and gloom of lockdowns, she has seen an incredible outpouring of community support.

She praised the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and other local business owners for the way they had banded together to get through the challenges that have arisen.

The best way to keep supporting our local businesses is simple: Spend money with them, and give back to the community.

Ms Tulloch also owns Hop Thru Cafe at James Street, and last Monday the team opened their second branch of the cafe at the library.

“If people can pop in and buy lunch, buy a coffee, pay it forward, buy a gift card,” she said.

“All that will help me to keep people employed.”

Following the lockdown announcement, the Queensland Government put forward a $5000 Covid support payment for businesses that had lost revenue, but Ms Tulloch says she would like to see the resumption of a long-term payments like JobKeeper.

“Lockdowns are instant, immediate,” Ms Tulloch said.

“You cannot just write a blank cheque and give it to people.

“We do need to revisit some form of JobKeeper knowing the majority of people are down a minimum of 50 per cent.

“We just can’t keep employing people with that amount of downturn.”

Are you a business that has lost revenue since the lockdowns? Tell us how we can help. Email us at [e-mail].