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We understand that the situation you are each facing is dire. Thank you to those of you who have contacted us to let us know about your specific circumstance by phone or email. This helps us shape our responses
and advocacy.
The impacts are affecting every business in every region, large and small. It is also having a profound impact on our workforce and the families that are now suffering from the loss of income. Most alarmingly, none
of us can predict how long we will be in this current situation or how it will evolve. It would seem clear by now that whatever defence we or the government can throw up: now is the time, don’t keep your
powder dry.
Our collective focus must be to keep as many businesses viable and as many staff members as possible employed in some way. We will rely on both to engineer a recovery at some point in the future in what will be
very competitive circumstances.
-Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive
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QTIC Advocacy
Based on your feedback, QTIC’s advocacy priorities are clear:
- Cash support now, for all size businesses in all regions: this can be genuine cost reductions, waivers ie, fees, charges, taxes (potentially even those already remitted) or cash grants.
- Grant support for ‘enhancement’, ‘shovel-ready’ projects
- Interest-free loans
- Wage subsidies across the board
- Local government levies, rates etc
We are also making the point that the current state-of-play resembles a business survival triage situation. Not only are small tourism businesses facing existential threats, large businesses
are also pushed to the brink. Some of those are critical to the functioning and recovery of our industry: airlines, major infrastructure providers, distribution systems (online and traditional intermediaries)
etc. Government need to engage with and support those critical parts of the industry also, with a long-term view.
We again want to recognise the efforts of the Queensland Government and its agencies for the prompt and collaborative responses for our industry over the last few weeks. It is a stand out across Australia.
A summary of current support measures can be found here. QTIC is in daily contact with Minister Jones, DITID, TEQ, DESBT and numerous members of Parliament, speaking up for our operators and working on practical solutions. Much
has been put in place already and we are confident that additional measures are on the way. We welcomed the payroll tax relief to date but have put on the agenda that this business burden will have to be
lifted further and result in a waiver as opposed to a deferral.
We are in active discussions with the Commonwealth Government, in our own right and also in collaboration through the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC). Our priorities are the same, including in
relation to the specific $1 billion industry package announced by Minister Birmingham last week. We are working with the RTOs and the State Government for a consistent Queensland approach. Outside
this package we are very persistent with the wage subsidy issue: it will ultimately be a cheaper option for the Commonwealth to help businesses keep staff on rather than paying the Newstart costs later on. New
Zealand has implemented a broad wage subsidy scheme.
We have also engaged with the Australian Banking Association to encourage the banks to very openly declare their solidarity with the broader business community and work with individual borrowers to work through
the challenges and sustain them.
We welcome all your suggestions and will do our best to keep you posted. It is a fast-moving advocacy environment.
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Putting our money where our mouth is
We have urged governments to give businesses a break and show solidarity. QTIC must do the same. The QTIC board has decided that in our own small way we must repay the trust and support that our members have
given us for the last 20 years.
For the next financial year, 2020-21, we will discount fees for current members, which would be due by 30 June 2020, by 100%. We are making your membership free.
In addition, in the Year of Indigenous Tourism, we extend free entry level membership now and for 2020-21 to Indigenous tourism businesses in Queensland. Please contact Rhonda Appo,
rhonda.appo@qtic.com.au
It is only a small gesture that we are able to make but it matters to us to show our solidarity with you. We have accumulated some reserves for a rainy day and now it is pouring.
We are hoping that our corporate partners, the RTOs and the Queensland Government will continue to support us too in our efforts. We will continue to deliver all our services and our engagement with you. Our
staff are committed, even if we are starting to work from home as required.
Thank you for your support in the past, we value your commitment to us.
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Queensland Tourism Awards
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