As the Sunshine Coast enters day two of lockdown, the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce have thrown their support behind calls to deliver immediate financial support for impacted businesses.
This comes after Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) notified every Queensland MP of their proposed Hotspot Recovery Package for Business of up to $25,000.
Acting CEO of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, Brady Sullivan believes that immediate financial assistance must be delivered now to ensure that small and family business owners do not bleed out over the course of lockdown events.
“We strongly support the conversations that CCIQ are currently having with Government at all levels in regard to the immediate consideration of hotspot recovery financial support for small business,” Brady Sullivan says.
“We know that small operators represent 97% of all business in Queensland and it is them who have taken on the brunt of this pandemic on behalf of the rest of the State.”
“I have spoken to a number of business owners who have already lost thousands of dollars worth of revenue, have been forced to send staff home and who have had their confidence obliterated.”
“All levels of Government must act now so that business owners can not only get through this lockdown, but so that they have the confidence to face whatever comes next.”
This proposed support package was initially put to Government by Peak Industry Group, CCIQ in March during the Greater Brisbane Lockdown with similar support being offered in Victoria, Western Australia and now New South Whales.
Brad McKenzie, part of family owned Business Performance Auto Electrics and Air Conditioning, says that the impacts of the lockdown have already extended into the following week.
“We have not only wiped the majority of bookings off the list for this week but are taking a number of calls cancelling bookings for next week too,” Mr McKenzie says.
“We are going to be feeling the effects of this lockdown long after things open back up.”
A CCIQ survey of businesses which went live after the lockdown announcement has received over 450 responses with 96% of businesses supporting the need for a targeted lockdown recovery package.