Chamber boss finds his voice in mayor stoush
Support for business, housing crisis at top of Hall’s agenda
Make no mistake, Martin Hall is fighting for the voice … but it’s not what you think. Rather than any political campaign, the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president is instead battling to ensure the city’s business community is heard … and there is one person in particular who he hopes is listening.
Representing not just the Chamber’s hundreds of members specifically but the city’s estimated 70,000 small businesses generally, Mr Hall is not afraid of an argument.
Point in case being a recent war of words with Mayor Tom Tate.
Last month, Mr Tate took aim at the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce, saying Surfers Paradise used to have a strong chamber voice but these days it “seems to have caught laryngitis because I haven’t heard boo from them”.
Mr Hall retaliated that Mr Tate had clearly not been listening, having not attended one of its events since the last council election in 2020.
The good news is that an olive branch has since been extended and accepted, with the mayor set to attend the Chamber’s fourth annual transport forum on June 30, but Mr Hall warns the Chamber’s voice is one that should not be ignored.
“Despite what the mayor says, we are still the voice for business. We are all volunteers who want to do nothing but help our city. Which is why we get so emotional when we are attacked,” he said.
“The mayor’s comments really caught us all by surprise at the time, but I think we all want to move past that and focus on the future.
“Ultimately, we both want the best for the city and I’m pleased he’ll be attending our transport forum. This is certainly a step in the right direction.”
However, Mr Hall admits he was somewhat surprised that the Chamber was not included in the Experience Gold Coast transition advisory committee.
But he’s certainly not picking a new fight, saying the establishment of Experience Gold Coast – created from the merger of the HOTA, Destination Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast, Study Gold Coast and Placemakers council entities – is a masterstroke.
“I can only see the benefits of this decision,” says Mr Hall, who is also general manager at Bus Stop Sales and Service.
“I’m not quite sure why the Chamber was not included since we are, in a sense, the union for Gold Coast businesses … but I think this new entity will certainly benefit our businesses.
“I hope we can see some real spring-boarding off this rebirth. We have a lot of major events here on the Gold Coast but we can do a lot more. Our stadiums sit empty more often than not.
“Since the Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta Alliances were collapsed into Major Events there have been a few gaps, not every event was brought back in and some of the suburbs have missed that.
“But Experience Gold Coast will be a great circuit-breaker and Chris Mills is an awesome interim CEO.”
In fact, when it comes to new faces, Mr Hall is a big fan.
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We are all nteers who want to do nothing but help our city. Which is why we get so emotional when we are attacked.
Martin Hall
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce
From the shock resignation of Mcpherson MP Karen Andrews, who has quit the Opposition frontbench and will not stand for re-election in her Gold Coast seat, to the prospect of local government elections next year, he says change is a good thing.
While he says running for mayor is not in his sights right now, he also does not quite rule it out.
“I have four children under 14, that’s not what I’m thinking about right now,” he says.
“But I guess you can never say never.
“When I look back over the last 15 years, we have changed as a society so much. Even the way we parent, the way we speak to our children, has changed … and I think that should be reflected in how we govern and who is governing.
“I was surprised to hear Karen Andrews’ announcement, but I think it’s always good to have new faces in these positions … we certainly need fresher and different viewpoints.
“I do think that applies to local government as well, although that is nothing personal.”
When it comes to the personal, however, Mr Hall is firmly focused on the Gold Coast’s housing crisis.
As a child growing up in a London social housing estate, he knows first-hand the importance of secure accommodation.
And that experience, as well as a post-graduate degree in housing and community, has given him critical insights into how the city and state can address this issue.
“Growing up in social housing is a big part of who I am today, my Mum still lives there even now, and I think it showed me from such an early age the importance of community,” he said.
“I actually went on to manage social housing for a time and it proved to me time and again how great things can come from dark places.
“The thought of my mother not being able to access that housing is almost unimaginable, but that’s what so many are experiencing now.
“Housing is primarily an issue for the state, but there are opportunities for the city to seize.”
And when it comes back to business, as it always does, Mr Hall says cost-of-living pressures are hitting home.
He says staffing pressures are yet to ease, but the Gold Coast’s emerging industries continue to grow.
“There is less money going through tills, absolutely.
“As mortgages increase, spending decreases, and that hurts our small businesses who have far less a buffer than big corporations,” he said.
“Staffing issues also continue to hurt, everyone is struggling for workers … and you only have to look at the shortage of bus drivers for illustration.
“What we need to do is look at increasing the hours that retirees can work without affecting their super. A 50 per cent increase in what they can work would profoundly change their availability and our staffing levels … all we need are some courageous politicians.
“When you look at other cultures and the way the older generations are still contributing and appreciated … we are really missing a trick.
“On the other hand, we are doing a great job at continuing to grow our emerging industries. From electric bus manufacturing, to rocket ships, to AI, to virtual racing … I think we have firmly made our case that the Gold Coast is the best place to do business.”
Surely that’s a voice we can all agree on.