More needed to keep the lights on and staff employed
The post-JobKeeper support package announced today will help drive consumer demand in Queensland’s struggling tourism regions, but more is needed to keep businesses afloat, said the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ).
The half-price ticket program aims to bring more tourists into the regions, give locals incentives to travel, and inject money into local economies. Still, the effect will not be immediate, explained CCIQ’s Amanda Rohan.
“Right now, businesses in heavily impacted tourism regions are concerned about how they will keep the lights on and pay their staff when JobKeeper ends this month,” Ms Rohan said.
“While the holiday stimulus scheme will hopefully create a surge of visitors to our regions, creating a boost of economic activity, that boost won’t happen immediately, and it won’t help pay the bills or staffing costs before they arrive.
“We know stimulus cannot be provided forever. Businesses want to stand on their own feet, but they must be enabled to do that through every means possible.
“And that comes from a two-pronged approach, with additional support from both the Federal and State Governments.
“The end of March is a crucial time for many businesses. There will be no more Jobkeeper and the state government will be reinstating payroll tax, alongside the commencement of the deferred payments.
“So now is the time for the Palaszczuk Government to stand up and start cushioning businesses for the end of Jobkeeper. They can do that through proportionate and targeted measures which are backed up by the removal of the payroll tax debt to businesses that are still heavily impacted.
“Leading up to last year's state budget (in December), CCIQ called for a complete waiver of the upcoming payroll tax deferment payments as we wanted to avoid the forthcoming situation- and there is still time to do that.
“Additionally, for the Federal Government’s subsidised airline ticket plan to work, there needs to be commitment and a defined framework on national borders. Otherwise, if borders were to be closed again, it will have no impact whatsoever. It will be businesses and their employees that suffer,” Ms Rohan said.
The SME Recovery Loan Scheme is welcomed. As we know the Queensland State Government concessional loans package rolled out last year provided access to funds, which helped businesses afford and make decisions to grow and develop their business.
ENDS