HELP US TO SAVE LIVES
Prime Minister pleads for Australians to ‘do the right thing’ as he toughens squeeze on indoor venues
THE federal and state governments are urging Australians to “do the right thing and save lives” as the Gold Coast recorded nine new cases of coronavirus yesterday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed a new wave of social isolation measures including new limits of one person for every four square metres in an enclosed space for venues.
“You don’t stop the virus but you can defeat it by slowing it down,’’ he said.
THE federal and state governments are urging Australians to “do the right thing and save lives” as the Gold Coast recorded nine new cases of coronavirus yesterday.
Health authorities confirmed 40 new cases across Queensland, bringing the state total to 184. The Gold Coast has had 47 confirmed cases.
The federal and state governments announced a raft of new social isolation measures yesterday, including:
New limits of one person every four square metres in an enclosed space for venues.
Bans on prison visits in Queensland from Monday.
$444.6 million of additional funding from the Commonwealth to support aged care facilities.
Banks agree to defer payments by small businesses for six months
A lockdown for remote indigenous communities to shield them from deadly infections.
A delay on the federal budget until October.
Schools and preschools to remain open.
“You don’t stop this virus, but you can defeat it by slowing it down,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “And that is how we save lives.
“I know these rules will take some time for people to get used to, but I’d ask people to move as quickly as they can.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned Queensland it was “not the time for a big night out” and urged them to stay away from elderly family members.
“I am not seeing my parents, this is how important it is,” she said.
“Now I’m asking my parents not to see their grandchilA dren for a short period of time.
“There is no commonsense in going to the pub and having a big night with your mates this weekend.”
Gold Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson said plans to support struggling businesses would be announced by Tuesday next week.
It comes after Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall called for the council to waive small business charges, rents, levies and permit fees “immediately”.
He said the council needed to emulate Brisbane City Council, which earlier announced a $7.9 million business relief package to waive a range of fees and charges for businesses and council lessees.
“We believe this was an excellent decision and it is one that the City of Gold Coast should follow as a starting point to helping the local business community,” Mr Hall said.
“In recent days, the Reserve Bank of Australia has pushed the emergency button by cutting interest rates to an alltime low and is buying bonds to reduce the banks’ lending costs. The Federal Government and the State Government have also taken big steps to help business.
“Now it is the council’s turn to show it is committed to protecting the region’s economy and the jobs of our residents.”
Mr Dickson said he recognised businesses were in “survival mode” and needed assistance, even though the council was in caretaker mode ahead of the election.
He said he would also be preparing other proposals to be considered by the next council.
“These measures will focus on actions for individual industries including the film and television industry, education industry, tourism industry and development industry.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coast companies and those with staff on the Glitter Strip are moving workers to part-time in an effort to avoid lay-offs.
Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure is asking employees to take leave and shutting event spaces as it deals with tumbling visitor numbers.
It is asking all Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint staff to consider using their leave entitlements and all full-time salaried employees to consider part-time work.
“For those team members whose jobs permit working from home, this arrangement can be discussed with management,” the company said.
“We want to reassure you that we are taking steps and doing everything in our power, including speaking with government, in an effort to ensure that the business is able to survive this period.”
Jordan Gauder, who runs Bundall-based Generation Physio, said he was moving 27 staff to part-time hours from Monday.
“We’re battening down the hatches and presuming this is the worst week and preparing for the weeks ahead,” he said.
Mr Gauder said his company had lost 170 bookings this week or $25,000 in sales.
IT IS THE COUNCIL’S TURN TO SHOW IT IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE REGION’S ECONOMY AND THE JOBS.
MARTIN HALL