PLEA TO NOT SHUT

Lobby group urging Palaszczuk to resist closures

THE Gold Coast’s leading business lobby head is urging Annastacia Palaszczuk to resist closing borders again as fears ramp up about COVID-19 in NSW and Victoria. Small business owners are divided, with some saying they’d rather be open with some income and the border closed than the reverse. But Chamber chief Martin Hall said: “We need to learn how to live with COVID-19.”

A LEADING business lobby group has urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to resist closing the border to stop a COVID invasion from NSW and Victoria.

But others believe it should be closed if that means they can keep trading.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland would “slam the door shut” on NSW if COVID-19 numbers ballooned.

Gold Coast Central Chamber president Martin Hall said a border closure would hurt the city. “The chamber believes closing the borders would be a step backwards,” he said.

“Queensland needs to keep being the best example of controlling the spread of the virus while protecting the economy. Unfortunately, until a vaccine is found, we need to learn how to live with COVID-19 and maintain defence strategies so we can keep borders open.

“Ideally, the checkpoint should be moved to a point where it helps support businesses on both sides of the border.”

Hospitality identity Scott Imlach, who owns Hideaway Bar & Kitchen, Bine Bar & Dining, Mr Hizola’s, Nightjar and Nightcap, said “some money in the tills is better than nothing”.

“I would rather be open and trading and have the borders closed than the other way around,” Mr Imlach said.

“Some money in the tills is better than nothing. Having to close down again would be a nightmare and kill half the businesses left standing.”

Burleigh restaurateur Karla Munoz Labart, from Labart, also supported another border closure, if needed.

“As much as we love having the business open for interstate visitors and we rely on them, the important thing in the long term is to get through this as soon as possible.”

Gold Coast Canal Cruises owner Mary Jane Michelmore said her business was already hit by the Victorian outbreak.

“My business relies on locals as much as interstate tourism, and I haven’t run a cruise since March 23,,” Ms Michelmore said. “The impact of another border closure is debatable. It is such a strange time. A lot of my clientele comes from the aged care sector and disability groups as well. We are really missing them this year. Until they feel safe with the situation I don’t know what will happen.”

Pilot Mitch Schiller, from Gold Coast Adventure Flights, said he was just getting by.

“Tourism is already getting slammed, but it is just life now,” he said. “What are you going to do?

“From a business point of view we would love it to stay open, but from a personal point of view it seems safer to close. It is slow anyway, we are down about 70 per cent. We can’t afford any less, but on the flip side we can’t afford to end up like Victoria either.”

The Vino Bus owner Natasha Bennet said her wine tour business based on the Gold Coast had recorded a huge influx of Queenslanders.

“We are actually pretty lucky, even on a Monday we have two buses out with Queenslanders which is good news,” she said.