The Queensland and Australian Governments will deliver a $52.8 million emergency support package to help businesses suffering due to the border closure to New South Wales including targeted support to tourism and hospitality businesses across Queensland impacted by the restrictions on interstate travel.
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program
The Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program will provide one-off grants of $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 to eligible employing small, medium and large tourism and hospitality businesses across Queensland which have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent for at least seven consecutive days between 1 July and 30 September 2021.
For more information about the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program visit the website.
Border Business Zone Support
Border Business Zone Support will be provided to businesses along the border region in the areas of Coolangatta, Currumbin – Tugun, and Currumbin Waters and the border towns of Wallangarra, Goondiwindi and Mungindi including:
- Extension of the 2021 COVID-19 Business Supports Grants – eligibility criteria for the existing program has been extended to include businesses located in the defined border region to assist those that have been particularly affected by ongoing border restrictions with New South Wales. Applications are now open for eligible businesses.
- COVID-19 Border Business Zone Hardship Grant – one-off grants of $5000 for employing businesses and $1000 for non-employing sole traders, will be available to eligible recipients of the COVID-19 Business Support Grants in the border business zone. These grants will become available in the event of an extended border closure. Businesses will be asked to register interest in this grant and will not need to submit a new application. Grants may be available in mid-October 2021, and information will be available within the coming weeks.
Additional Queensland Government elements of the Border Business Zone Support include:
- Mental health support – $700,000 for additional mental health support for business owners and their families in the border zone.
- Support for local marketing campaigns – up to $1 million to the Gold Coasters’ Play Money Rewards campaign run by Destination Gold Coast plus providing support for local marketing campaigns in Coolangatta.
Staff from the Queensland Government are also visiting businesses in the area in an outreach program to provide information and support.