Chamber outlook bleak

Business support bodies face financial hardship

WITH his traders’ organisation facing losses of up to $200,000, Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce head Martin Hall says “it’ll be hard to help businesses recover from COVID-19 if we don’t exist”.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, free memberships had been offered, resulting in a massive uptake from 200 to 400 members, Mr Hall said.

“When you consider memberships fees are on average about $500 and originally we had 200 paying members, that’s $100,000 in lost revenue.

But factor in the new memberships and it’s a lot more,” he said.

“We haven’t been able to host any events and because we’re a voluntary board made up of small business owners battling financially through COVID-19 restrictions, it’s a troubling time.”

Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce has lost $25,000, estimates president Alison Rip, with the figure likely to balloon if borders remain closed.

“It’s hard for small businesses on the mountain and so of course we haven’t invoiced fees because there’s just no money in their coffers to pay them,” she said.

“We’ve also lost money because we haven’t been able to open the visitor information centre or charge fees associated with the website. For a chamber that is tourism-based, we’ve got to figure out how to spend money wisely to help our local economy recover.

“Sadly not all businesses on the mountain will reopen.”

To support locals, the chamber was promoting new businesses each week across its social media platforms – a move endorsed by Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland’s relationships manager Paul Garcia.

“I think many chambers of commerce are finding it tough financially, especially as they are offering memberships to help battling businesses,” Mr Garcia said.

In addition to lobbying State Government and local councils for funding, Mr Garcia recommended chambers promote their members on social media and lobby councils for manpower.

“Perhaps councils could lend them some of their outof-work staff to help them make phone calls to check in on members to see if they’re struggling and need assistance,” he said. “Chamber staff are usually small business operators who are flat out trying to make ends meet at the moment, so having a council staffer help them out one day a week would be amazing.”

Mr Hall said chambers were “the trusted voice” because most business owners feared governments would push their own agendas.

“Our job is to advocate for members, that’s what we’re here for, but it will be hard to do this and help businesses if we don’t exist,” he said.

Asked if the Gold Coast City Council would consider financial assistance for chambers, Mayor Tom Tate said the city budget would be handed down on Monday.

“Nobody in our community knows more about chambers of commerce than me,’’ he said. “I was regional chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, so of course I see the value in it. But the ship, of course, only does well with a good captain steering.”