LEVEL WITH US, PREMIER

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to display scant regard for the practicalities of running a business.

Notwithstanding the fact she remains steadfast in her controversial border closure while neighbouring NSW has opened, her lack of foresight in not giving more than 24 hours notice to operators of gyms and hospitality about easing restrictions was ill thought out.

Not surprisingly, operators, while welcoming any increased easing of patron limits, called out the shocking lack of notice.

It’s all the more galling given it had been clear from early last week that something like what was announced yesterday was on the cards.

For more than a month now, traders have made it explicitly clear they needed clear dates for when larger numbers of patrons would be allowed back through their doors to facilitate the purchase of stock and the rehiring of furloughed staff.

The sudden increase as announced yesterday will put some hospitality business owners in an awkward position.

While Gold Coasters are known for their ingenuity, miracles cannot be performed in the face of the practicalities of short notice.

Ms Palaszczuk listened when Gold Coast business leaders last week pleaded with her to speed up the reopening of the economy but she is sticking to her crippling border block.

The Gold Coast is struggling more than most due to the tourism tap being turned off.

Until such time as Ms Palaszczuk deems it safe to allow interstate travel, the Glitter Strip will suffer and howl.

Keeping in mind the reaction of business today to short-notice decisions, the premier must level with the Gold Coast’s tourism industry about when they can expect to return to work and begin welcoming customers back to the nation’s holiday capital.

Until then, the pain continues.