CHAMBER BOSS CONDEMNS ‘NO-FRILLS’ BUDGET
A GOLD Coast Chamber of Commerce boss has called for action to save the city’s businesses after the COVID19 crisis, and doesn’t believe the “Road to Recovery” budget is enough.
The 2020-21 budget handed down on Monday delivered a rate freeze and a $26.9 million support package for community and business, including a financial rebate of $64 for each of about 137,800 properties.
But Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the “no-frills” budget – which Mayor Tom Tate described as the “toughest” he had overseen – was unlikely to boost businesses.
“I can’t see any exact or direct stimulus that will help businesses reinvigorate at this stage, but I’m happy to be corrected,” he said.
“The budget’s not really going to help, to be honest. We need action. We need to subsidise flights bringing people to the Gold Coast.
“The economic stimulus is sadly lacking and I haven’t had my questions answered in two correspondences we put to the council.”
Mr Hall said much of the support package appeared to be going towards taxpayer rebates.
“It would have been great if that $64 was a local business voucher rather than money back in people’s bank accounts. Our offer to help (council) is there. We’re a not-for-profit voluntary organisation with a trusted voice. We want to help.”
In a budget shock, the council rejected a request for at least $4 million extra from Destination Gold Coast, which had said it was crucial to help the city recover its visitor market share post pandemic. But the city’s northern corridor was deemed the big budget winner while whistles and bells spending on a cruise ship terminal and cableway proposals were axed.
Cr Tate said in yesterday’s Bulletin he was confident the city was on the road to recovery.
Other groups expressed relief at maintaining funding amid the pandemic, including popular Paws at the Park. The pet fair got $10,000 across Division 5 and 9. Event co-founder Lia Ferguson said they were excited to have the same level of support as before.
“(Council) have been supporting us for the last three years to that same amount, we couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
“We did check in with them because of the restrictions on events (whether we would still be funded), and they were really supportive of any changes we need to make.”