Queensland tourism and hospitality businesses to receive further COVID-19 support

Addressing the twin burden posed by international and domestic border closures as well as sharp lockdowns to contain COVID, the Queensland Government is delivering a $47.75 million Tourism and Hospitality Sector COVID-19 Lockdown Support Package.

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 made 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; and

• liquor licensing fee waivers and refunds.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk notes “we’ve been working closely with all industries throughout the pandemic and we’re now providing additional assistance for eligible businesses on top of the $5,000 COVID-19 Business Support Grants we’ve already announced.”

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said the package was the result of close consultation with businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors and adds “given the impact of lockdowns on licensed venues, we will ease the burden by waiving or refunding liquor licensing fees for the 2021-22 financial for existing businesses, at a cost of up to $22 million.

“In response to the lockdown in Cairns and Yarrabah in the Far North, we are also extending eligibility for the $5,000 COVID-19 Business Support Grants to include large tourism and hospitality businesses outside south-east Queensland.”

The Treasurer also announced a $20 million Queensland COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate to provide appropriate assistance for small and medium businesses and not-for-profit organisations affected by possible exposure to a COVID case.

“Businesses and community organisations throughout the state have helped keep Queenslanders safe by acting swiftly and responsibly to undertake deep cleaning when a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 has been on their premise,” the Treasurer said.

“The COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate will help cover these expenses by providing up to 80% of cleaning costs, capped at $10,000 per incident, where a business is a confirmed COVID-19 exposure site.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the new support measures were in response to industry feedback and thanked the Premier and Treasurer for their speed in building a targeted package “to help get Queensland’s tourism and events industry back on its feet.

“Throughout the lockdowns, I’ve been in regular contact with industry leaders and Regional Tourism Organisations and know operators are really hurting.

“We know the lack of any sort of JobKeeper-style assistance from the Federal Government has brought Queensland’s Tourism and Events industry to its most desperate point since the pandemic.

“Once the borders can safety reopen, Tourism and Events Queensland will also be Good to Go with a bold marketing campaign and fresh holiday packages to boost confidence, and bring holidaymakers back for a great visitor experience.”

Image courtesy Tourism and Events Queensland