With spring just around the corner, we are still stuck on the COVID 19 roundabout.  I empathise with local businesses who last month were looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Sunshine State from interstate as well as potentially New Zealand.  Now we are 'on hold' with strict border restrictions due to three foolish and irresponsible young women who imported the coronavirus from Melbourne to Queensland and we are on tenterhooks waiting for an implosion of corona ...

Business conditions continue to flatline in Queensland               KEY FINDINGS ·Two in three businesses indicated their sales and profitability had declined during the quarter; 54% of businesses are concerned about their viability beyond 12-months when many of the stimulus measures end; and The easing of restrictions and anticipation of the border reopening credited for a slight increase in business sentiment...

Queensland's closed borders opened on Friday 10 July however the welcome mat is definitely not out for our Victorian friends who are experiencing difficulties with a significant spike in covid-19.  Our cafes, restaurants, retail and theme parks are ready and waiting to eagerly greet visitors with open arms and wide smiles.
  Coronavirus Qld Border Closure
Over the last couple of weeks there has been greater support for the Queensland border closure due to the substantial...

The Gold Coast's peak body supports Mayor Tom Tate's call for the New South Wales border to be shifted south to the Tweed River.
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall said Mr Tate's suggestion to move the border south so it aligned with the Tweed River, made a lot of sense. "Shifting the border to the south would make life a lot easier for many people, particularly during the current COVID-19 crisis'' said Mr Hall. "The daily mass...

The City of Gold Coast's annual budget involves some big dollars but what will it mean for the business community looking to recover from the COVID-19 crisis? The Tom Tate-led council has handed down a total budget for 2020-21 that is a whopping $1.72 billion. That is a big figure, but it is down nearly $10 million from last year. The City Council is planning to borrow money this year to invest in infrastructure and intends to keep borrowing until June 2025. Total debt is forecast to i...

The Gold Coast's peak body for business has welcomed the State Government's announcement that it will reopen the Queensland borders from July 10. Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall said Gold Coast business owners had been crying out for the borders to be reopened because the economy had a significant reliance on tourism, hospitality, and retail trade. Mr Hall said the State Government's decision to restrict travel to and from Victoria was sensible consi...