Coast hit hard by job loss blow

QUEENSLAND has been disproportionately hit by coronavirus job losses, with the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast copping the brunt of the blow, sparking calls for the borders to reopen and an urgent construction stimulus.

There are fears it will get worse before it gets better, as construction contracts dry up.

Some good news is on the way with the Federal Government expected to announce a new housing grant this week.

A Grattan Institute report taking in March 14 to April 18 revealed there were job losses of more than 10 per cent in the Sunshine Coast electorates of Fairfax and Fisher, while three Gold Coast electorates were hit with a 9 per cent increase in unemployment.

There were more electorates with job losses of 9 per cent or more in Queensland than in any other state.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said the state needed to reopen its borders by its original July 10 time frame or risk missing the tourism wave.

“If we don’t act soon we will have to rebadge ourselves, ‘beautiful one day, closed the next’,” he said.

The report indicated the highest job losses came from areas reliant on tourism and hospitality.

Mr O’Brien called for Federal Government action to stimulate demand in the construction sector amid evidence work was drying up.

There is talk the Government will soon announce a new homebuyer grant.

Master Builders Queensland boss Grant Galvin said the flow-on effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on the construction industry would hit from August to December without stimulus, putting 100,000 jobs at risk.

“We need urgent stimulus now,” he said.

He said a “new homebuyer grant” rather than first homebuyer grant was needed, as the former group was more likely to spend during the downturn.