SCOMO: DON’T FAIL US NOW

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison is to be commended for his leadership of the economy during the coronavirus crisis.

JobKeeper payments have been a lifeline for struggling businesses on the Gold Coast.

Treasury data released this month shows Surfers Paradise, Southport, Nerang, Ashmore-Arundel-Molendinar, Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach have all had between 2000 and 3000 businesses apply for the wage subsidy for their staff.

Surfers Paradise was the third highest recipient in the state behind Cairns and Brisbane CBD.

In addition, the $688 million Homebuilder scheme has been praised by industry body Masters Builders as “just what the doctor ordered”.

Although some have criticised it for being too restrictive.

Mr Morrison has also been a strong advocate for reopening the NSW border, the number one issue for the Gold Coast economy.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said once restrictions are lifted and the border is reopened that 66,000 jobs will be created and a much needed $653 million pumped into the state’s economy.

The funds can’t come soon enough. However, Mr Morrison and the Federal Government must be condemned for their decision to not provide eight-figure bridging loans to Village Roadshow – operator of (take a deep breath) visitor magnet Gold Coast attractions Sea World, Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular – and rival Ardent Leisure, which owns Dreamworld.

The government rightly points out that it has already provided $80 million in funding support through JobKeeper and other programs to the entities.

The border closure will not help either when Sea World reopens on June 26.

But JobKeeper does not take into account the massive investment involved in making the rides and attractions operational again.

Engineers have to be employed and hundreds of tests conducted on each rollercoaster before they can be deemed safe to ride again.

Village was already burning through up to $15 million a month during the shutdown and Ardent up to $10 million a month.

Analyst Citi has pointed out those figures will get worse, not better, now that the parks will reopen from later this month because of the expense of getting them ready again.

The viability of the parks, which are in danger due to the enormous costs now being borne, must not be put in jeopardy.

Last week the reopening plans unveiled by Village for its parks gave the city a real lift across the board.

The government has already unveiled other industry packages to rescue suffering sectors so why not the theme parks?

Village alone has 5000 employees and Ardent thousands more. They attract huge numbers of visitors each year to the city.

How many people come each year without the theme parks on their “to-do” list. Not many.

The city would be much poorer without them. They are as crucial as the beachfront.