Financial support on offer to Cairns workers, businesses impacted by snap lockdown

##MP##

People who’ve lost at least eight hours of work as a result of Cairns and Yarrabah’s snap three-day lockdown are eligible for financial support. 

A range of measures are also on offer to local businesses, including payroll tax payment deferrals, fee waivers and refunds, $5000 Business Support Grants, and rebates for deep cleaning costs of exposure sites. 

The announcements from both the state and federal governments come in response to ongoing international and domestic border closures, as well as strict lockdowns across the country.

##BA##

For individuals 

Financial support is available to anyone who’s lost at least eight hours of work in Cairns due to the region’s snap lockdown. 

If you’ve lost at least 20 hours of work, you’re eligible for a $750 payment. 

Those who’ve lost between eight and 20 hours can receive $450. 

$200 is available to anyone already on income support and who has lost at least eight hours’ work.

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the federal government would continue to support Far North Queenslanders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

##PQ##

“I fully appreciate this is a very difficult period for Cairns and Far North Queensland which is already going through a tough time as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the three-day lockdown,” Mr Entsch said.

Individuals can apply here for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment from Monday, 16 August.

People can prepare to make a claim by setting up a myGov account if they don’t already have one.

For businesses

Payroll tax payment deferrals, fee waivers and refunds, and rebates for deep cleaning are among the state government support on offer to Far North businesses.

The fee waivers include those accrued with liquor licensing and tourism activities – including businesses operating in a national park – for a twelve-month period. 

A $20 million Queensland COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate has also been announced, designed to support businesses and not-for-profit organisations impacted by possible exposure to the virus. 

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said the combined packages totalling $67.75 million will deliver immediate cash flow assistance.

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

“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 COVID-19 Business Support Grants are jointly-funded by both the state and federal governments. 

Also available to eligible tourism businesses across the 2021-22 financial year are deferrals of state lease fees, waivers or refunds of inbound tour operator fees, and a second round of rebates to offset berthing fees for marine tourism vessels.

Find more information on the Tourism and Hospitality Sector COVID-19 Lockdown Support Package, the COVID-19 Cleaning Rebate and Business Support Grants here.

Is it enough?

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the announcements are only a step in the right direction on the long road to recovery for local operators.

“Businesses have said they will need more than payroll tax and fee deferrals to survive being locked out from their customers,” he said.

“The industry urges the state and federal governments to work together on wage support assistance similar to the JobSaver program offered by the New South Wales government in conjunction with the Commonwealth.”

##PQ2##

“Some 90 per cent of tourism businesses are small to medium enterprises and they are in a cash crisis.”

Mr Olsen said the tourism marketing body estimates 650 businesses are “hanging by a thread” and may not have the cash flow to recover from 18 months without normal trading.

“They require an immediate cash injection to survive,” he said.

“We will also need aviation support packages again as more than 85 per cent of travellers to Cairns and Great Barrier Reef arrive by air.

“Wage support is essential to ensure the industry can resume trading when travel is once again allowed.”