Economy re-opening certainty positive for business confidence, but lacking essential detail for Queensland businesses
Queensland businesses locked out from labour markets, supply chains and consumers in other states have been afforded a deadline for border re-opening but there is still work to do to ensure the state’s economy can get back to business.
Key points
- Queensland businesses afforded border re-opening date commitment they have been desperately asking for months
- There is still detail missing from Queensland Government about what it means for businesses
- Business community is calling for information on what requirements they will need to comply with under new ‘COVID business as usual’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this afternoon committed to the date of December 17 and an 80% Queensland vaccination rate for the border re-opening date for fully vaccinated travelers.
It comes after the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) called for businesses to be afforded certainty since borders closed to interstate hotspots in July.
Some travel will be allowed to resume from November 17 and 70% vaccination rate with home quarantine requirements in place.
CCIQ Policy and Advocacy Manager Cherie Josephson said the confirmation date was a welcome announcement and a positive sign for the Queensland economy, however businesses still needed to know what conditions and compliance requirements they would have to meet under the new ‘COVID business as usual.’
“Businesses need to know what they’re up against. They need to know how any mandatory vaccine rules in workplaces and business premises will be controlled, if there will be any changes to density limits, restrictions, testing and isolation and hygiene compliance requirements and what contact tracing obligations they will have to meet,” Ms Josephson said.
Ms Josephson said small businesses across Queensland, not only those in border zone areas, needed time, resources and support to help them plan, prepare and invest for when the state’s economy re-opens.
“It will be too late for those businesses to be notified about any new rules, obligations or requirements they will need to meet under new COVID business as usual conditions when borders are already open,” Ms Josephson said.
“They need those details now, to allow them time to invest in staff and assets, to plan how they will meet obligations, and to prepare for getting back to business.
“This afternoon we heard some venues will be for ‘vaccinated only’ patrons when interstate travel resumes but we need more detail about what that means for businesses and how they will be able to protect themselves, their staff and their customers.
“It’s also essential those businesses are afforded detail on how mandatory vaccination at their premises will be monitored and who will be responsible for enforcing it.
“Without this critical detail, businesses across Queensland will not be able to experience the full benefit of travel between states starting before Christmas.”
ENDS
Emma Clarke
CCIQ Media and Communications Advisor
[email protected] | 0403 944 902