Awesome news for Queensland Hospitality and Tourism Businesses
Queensland hospitality and tourism businesses were jumping for joy on Tuesday 10th August 2021 after hearing the press conference where The Honourable Cameron Dick Treasurer and Minister for Investment made the announcement for further COVID-19 support worth $47.75 million for Queensland tourism and hospitality businesses.
It is welcomed relief for all theses businesses that have been hit hard by constant lockdowns, border closures and uncertainty for consumers and businesses alike. As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and follow the health advice this puts enormous pressure on the hospitality and tourism industry as it is one of the first industries to get shutdown in an outbreak.
The bills don't stop coming in
The bills don’t stop coming in, staff don’t get paid and customers can’t come to visit their local pub or club and tourists are scared to book holidays with the uncertainty of lockdowns and border closures happening without any notice.
Having this support package from the Queensland Government at least provides some assistance from the challenging two years we have faced and the continuation of the pandemic. Cameron Dick has stated that the government has been in close consultation with businesses and listened to what they had to say, and he believes the measures will deliver immediate cash flow assistance.
The new $47.75 million tourism and hospitality support package delivers a range of measures including:
- A six-month deferral of payroll tax payments for eligible tourism and hospitality businesses across the state impacted by current lockdowns. Payroll tax liabilities to be paid in August can be deferred for a period of six months. Eligible business who have already paid their payroll tax payments in August will be able to defer their next monthly payroll tax liability for six months.
- Waiving, refunding, or deferring a range of fees and charges for eligible tourism and hospitality businesses, including 12-month fee waivers for tourism businesses operating in a national park, conservation park, recreation area or state forest, including whale watching operations.
- Liquor licensing fee waivers and refunds.
Due to the recent lockdown in Cairns and Yarrabah region they have now been included to apply for the $5000 COVID-19 Business Support Grants as the eligibility has been extended to include large tourism and hospitality businesses outside southeast Queensland.
What happens when your business is identified as a COVID exposure site?
When a business is identified as a COVID exposure site they are left with the burden of the cost to clean their business to be able to open their doors again. The Queensland government is going help by providing up to 80 percent of the cleaning costs capped at $10,000 per incident. Which is great news!
COVID-19 Lockdown support package also includes:
- 12-month deferral of state lease fees for eligible tourism operators for the period between 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
- 12-month fee waivers or refunds of inbound tour operator fees. This support is available for fee renewals up to 30 June 2022
- A second round of the COVID-19 Marine Tourism Rebate in for the 2021-22 financial year to offset berthing fees for marine tourism vessels at privately owned or privately operated marinas in eligible Local Government Areas.
This will certainly assist and support businesses in not having to pay the fees until next year. If you want to find out further information about all the assistance on offer you can visit http://www.business.qld.gov.au/.
