BULLETIN COUNTS COST OF COVID SHUTDOWN

THE Bulletin has campaigned tirelessly to help the Coast’s 60,000 small businesses in the road to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In its fight against the State Government to provide certainty around the reopening of the border and honour rescue packages, the newspaper revealed:

Tourism leaders expect up to $4.3 billion to be stripped from the local economy – and $310 million every month the border is closed. About $1.2 billion would be lost from interstate travel in the July quarter. About 7500 businesses closed their doors in April alone. Tens of thousands of jobs were expected to be lost. Just three commercial flights a week were coming into Gold Coast Airport. Pre-coronavirus it was more than 400 flights.

Theme parks are still awaiting their slice of two rescue packages dating to March. A $32 million new rollercoaster sat idle in a

Dreamworld carpark.

Mental health advocates are bracing for a 50 per cent increase in suicides. More than 3000 Australians are already taking their lives every year. Business owners are on the “cusp of rebellion” after watching 30,000 protesters defy social distancing rules in the Brisbane CBD. Premier Palaszczuk infuriated them further by saying she told protesters to stay away.

Last week the Bulletin revealed Treasury was not modelling the financial cost of the NSW border closure. This week it reported the Palaszczuk Government was preparing to argue in the High Court that Queensland’s exile from the rest of the country is not responsible for any economic hardship.

Business owners accused Mayor Tom Tate of “deserting” them by siding with Premier Palaszczuk. He backflipped on Thursday and demanded she come up with a reopening date.