SHOW THEM THE MONEY

TRICKLE OF SUPPORT FLOWS THROUGH TO FNQ DESPITE $600M PACKAGE

THE slow trickle of funds from a $600 million support package to Covid ravaged Far Northern businesses has drawn scorn.

Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf said the State Government had been spruiking $20m had been provided to the state’s small business comunity but estimated just $2m had so far flowed into this region.

However, Cairns MP Michael Healy blamed a lack of applications for the drip-feed.

Calls for the state and federal treasurers to visit the city for roundtable talks are growing even more desperate with the ominous prediction that a spike in insolvencies is looming.

FRACTION of the muchvaunted $600m business support package trumpeted as a saviour for Far North businesses has been paid out, it has been revealed.

Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf has questioned why the Queensland government was “spruiking” that $20m had been provided to the state’s small business community as part of the lifeline.

He estimated “less than $2m” has flowed to businesses across Cairns and the Far North, many of which are on their knees.

“That’s a drop in the ocean in terms of the challenges out there – it’s just not enough,” he said. “The money needs to flow and flow faster than it is now; it’s one of the main support packages for us and they’re spruiking $20m across the whole state. It’s disappointingly small.”

Cairns Labor MP Michael Healy said they could only stump up if businesses applied for the grant, and not enough in the Far North had come forward.

The $600m package – jointly funded by the state and federal governments – gives support of up to $30,000 to traders impacted by the lockdowns robbing Cairns of peak-season customers.

“We can only pay out what people apply for so the message is really clear, we need more tourism operators in this region who are struggling to apply,” he said.

“The cash is there, it’s ready to be paid, but operators need to ask for it.

“We know there’s a lot hurting, so tourism operators in particular need to apply and we are pleading for them to do so.”

Mr Healy said he had asked stakeholders if the process was fast enough.

Employment and Small Business Minister Di Farmer said applying was “straightforward” with template letters included in the process.

“I want to be really clear: any eligible business that apA plies will receive the grant,” she said.

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch questioned whether the process could be streamlined.

The payouts are administered by the state government.

“I don’t think it’s as easy as what people think, it’s a bit clunky and difficult to access,” he said. “Let’s be honest, our businesses need more than one-off grants and we understand that.

“Three flights from Adelaide is not going to cut the mustard until Christmas for tourism operators.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland boss Mark Olsen said struggling operators needed to “put their hands up” and accept some relief.

“We understand that there is still a lot of money in the pot for business support up here and I can’t stress enough for people who are struggling to put their hands up,” he said.

“We know every little bit helps and it could be just enough to keep businesses afloat and get them to the school holidays.”

The grants are open until November 16.

The Far North Queensland Tour Operators Association has renewed calls for a wage subsidy scheme to be introduced, saying there is “zero meaningful financial support” being offered.

The group has asked for a roundtable with both the state and federal treasurers, Cameron Dick and Josh Frydenberg, demanding the industry hear “in the same room, with both governments” what can be done.

Pinnacle Tourism Marketing managing director Michael Nelson said the situation was “dire”.

“We’ve got another 3000odd jobs on the line here and we honestly don’t know what other metric we need to put in front of them,” he said.

“Our tourism business and the jobs it supports is being sacrificed without any consideration from both these governments. We just need both treasurers to turn up.”

A petition to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk calling for a JobSaver-style scheme has 1815 signatures.