Mayoral candidates eye off economic stimulus
TOOWOOMBA Regional Council’s mayoral candidates have outlined their plans to support local businesses as they contend with the fallout of COVID-19’s impact on the economy.
As the virus begins to spread through Australia, the Federal Government has implemented restrictions on people’s movement, which have had drastic consequences for business.
The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce last week called for a co-ordinated effort from Federal, State, and Local Governments to help businesses with COVID-19’s “unprecedented” impact on the economy.
All three mayoral candidates – incumbent Paul Antonio, Chris Meibusch, and Douglas Doelle – agreed the council needed to act, and promised to implement measures if they were elected.
Mr Doelle said he would support reducing charges immediately, “not only for Toowoomba but also the whole region”.
He said that for the present time, the council should do away with parking fees “for businesses to survive”.
Cr Antonio said he’d fielded numerous calls from the business community since the impact of the virus began to be felt and believed the incoming council would have “to stand by small business”.
Cr Antonio said the local government act precluded any major decisions being made before the March 28 elections, but acknowledged that Toowoomba and the nation as a whole were dealing with “an absolutely unprecedented crisis”.
“As soon as I am sworn in I will move very quickly to do something about this,” Cr Antonio said.
He said the council freezing rates for farmers during the drought had set a precedent for what could potentially be done for business owners.
Last week, Brisbane City Council announced a $7.9 million business relief package that waived all charges, rents, levies and permit fees effective immediately for all businesses, “as they face economic hardship caused by coronavirus impact”.
Cr Antonio said “the least we can do as a council would be to follow the good example that’s been set by the Brisbane City Council”.
“I think we’ve really got to step up to the mark. We need to do all we can to preserve small business because of the amazing role it plays in our community.”
Mr Meibusch said that “as the Toowoomba region’s next mayor” he would be calling for the new council “to consider an immediate, comprehensive local COVID-19 response across all sectors of our community”.
He proposed waiving all charges, rents, levies and permit fees for the region’s businesses, at least until June 30, as proposed by BCC, but wanted to go one step further, extending the waiver “to all community organisations and households”.
He also suggested “rates relief”, which “could include a deferral of the next water rates levy in April for all households”.
Mr Meibusch also said he would consider “a general rates freeze over the next two years" and said the new council should identify all possible labour-intensive council projects that could be fasttracked.
Facilitating the availability of local schools and child care centres to look after the children of health care workers and the commissioning of local community groups to ensure the elderly and vulnerable were “visited, monitored, and supported” were also steps Mr Meibusch said should happen.
“All these proposals must be reviewed subject to a rigorous costing against council’s current budgetary bottom line,” he added.
“We need to recognise that Toowoomba region residents will not be likely to be in a position to meet any necessary rates increase over the 12-24 months.”
Toowoomba Regional
Council CEO Brian Pidgeon said the council continued to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a calm and measured way.
“As part of this response we’re looking at providing a range of economic stimulus initiatives for our local businesses and residents,” he said.
“With local government currently in caretaker mode, we’re limited in what decisions can be implemented prior to the formation of a new council.
“However, we feel it’s important to act swiftly and look at what form of economic relief can be introduced immediately so we can assist our residents through this difficult period.”