Schoolies 2019
A proposal has been mooted to cut back the 'Schoolies Week' to 3 days.  It has taken many years and a lot of effort to achieve a positive reputation for an event that generates a lot of income for some businesses and is certainly a major week on the Gold Coast tourism calendar.  The week events have matured over the years to safely entertain and manage the 'Schoolie' crowds who are celebrating the end of their high school education.  Granted...

Qld Estimates July Hearings

The Estimates process is the questioning of the Governments 2019-20 State budget of $58 billion and this year it revealed some serious integrity issues brought about by the Palaszczuk Government displaying arrogance and hubris in its financial management of the State.  First and foremost, the Premier's own Chief of Staff, a bureaucrat earning around $500,000 per year, was given a Qld taxpayer funded grant of $267,000 to assist him float his company...

The Gold Coast Central Chamber, along with other Chambers of Commerce on the Gold Coast and throughout Queensland, is opposed to the State Government proposal to have a part-day public holiday on Christmas Eve. At the outset, I would express the fact that business operators understand employees want time off on Christmas Eve to spend with their family. This is because small and medium size businesses are predominantly owned and operated by mothers, fathers and families. But this propo...

Qld State Budget

The Queensland State Budget was handed down on Tuesday 11 June 2019 and the outcome has been a Palaszczuk Labor Government legacy of higher taxes, more debt, less jobs and less infrastructure. The Palaszczuk Labor Government is quite simply unable to manage the economy and their latest budget clearly demonstrated their ineptitude. The 2019 budget failed the people of Queensland. With unemployment on the rise and nine new taxes being introduced Queensland is on it...

The Gold Coast's peak business body is urging the State Government to make cuts to payroll tax the priority in its budget due to be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said payroll tax was hurting small business and killing jobs growth. "Australia's and Queensland's economy is weak and it is at a tipping point," said Mr Hall. "Interest rates are at record lows, GDP growth is slower than any time sinc...

The Gold Coast's peak business body has welcomed the State Government's release of The Spit master plan saying the plan is a positive step forward. Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the plan went some way toward resolving the division between green groups and pro-development lobbies on the future of The Spit. "The plan Identifies new opportunities for mixed-use development to create a vibrant Village Centre that takes advantage of The Broadwat...