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Check out the latest News and Events from the Noosa Chamber of Commerce.
NOOSA CHAMBER PLANNING UPDATE: During July & August 2021 the NCCI committee developed a draft three-year strategic plan focused on delivering significant benefits for members & expanding the role of the Chamber in the Noosa community. The plan is now being refined prior to it being circulated to members for comment before the end of this month, along with a statement on how it will be implemented. The plan includes a range of programs intended to strengthen the role of the Chamber and to improve its services to members. We’d like to thank Judi Lalor for facilitating the planning workshops and Noosa Council for sponsoring them.
Letter reprinted in Noosa Today - August 27 edition.
Govt must pay up, pay amply and pay fast, says Chamber
Head of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ralph Rogers, has called on Federal and State governments to recognise the unfairness of their treatment of the private sector in dealing with Covid outbreaks.
Mr Rogers said that State governments are imposing unsustainable trading restrictions on business and both Federal and State governments are providing inadequate support for businesses seriously affected by lockdowns.
“We recognise that governments must respond swiftly and strongly to public health emergencies but, where private sector businesses are threatened with extinction, there must be greater funding available from the public purse,” he said.
“All of us in the private sector understand the urgency of reacting appropriately when outbreaks occur, but the consequences of taking actions that close or limit our businesses are massive.
“Many businesses have been seriously damaged and even crippled. This cannot go on.”
“Each time a lockdown is called we are told ‘we are all in this together’, but that is manifestly untrue,” Mr Rogers said.
“The big boys in town have it sorted as they are permitted to stay open and trade normally.
“Meanwhile, independent and small and medium retailers are forced to close, foregoing cash flow and providing windfall profits to businesses allowed to stay open.
“This unbalanced response has exhausted or seriously depleted the savings of individual business owners and forced them to lay off most employees.
“But it also threatens the whole economy and is killing off innovation, yet government somehow expects all sectors of the economy to survive.”
Mr Rogers said it is not good enough for governments to think they can let small business, often stated by politicians to be the key driver of the economy, to be largely neglected.
“Here in Noosa the tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors are on their knees,” he said.
“Government is leaving us to swing in the breeze.
“Providing adequate support to small business is now up to government, which needs to pay up, pay amply and pay fast.
“Enough is enough, get your act together and save what's left of our independent business community.”
Mr Rogers said the Noosa Chamber had ideas on other fair solutions for the predicament facing independent business but first government has to listen.
“Big business has been favoured for long enough, we cannot over-emphasise the urgency of Federal and State governments getting their act together, stop treating small business as disposable and provide an adequate level of financial support required,” he said.
Mr Rogers said the Chamber was calling on Premier Palaszczuk to deliver “immediate and direct” financial compensation for Noosa businesses affected by Covid restrictions.
“While the Queensland Government has imposed these restrictions, it has failed to fully acknowledge or compensate affected businesses that have been directed not to trade or to severely minimise their trade,” he said.
NCCI MEDIA STATEMENT:
Noosa business urges Covid fairness on government.
The Noosa Chamber of Commerce has written to Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk to express great concern at the ad hoc approach to providing financial compensation to Noosa businesses as a result of the need to comply with Covid lockdown orders.
“Financial compensation has been insignificant compared to the cost incurred by the business community,” said Ralph Rogers, Interim President of the Chamber.
“Whilst the Queensland Government has imposed these restrictions, it has failed to fully acknowledge or compensate affected businesses that have been directed not to trade or to severely minimise their trade.”
Mr Rogers said by government order many sectors, like accommodation providers and tourism operators, were not compensated at all while major retailers were allowed to trade.
“It is the view of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce that this fails the compact government is asking the business community to enter into, which has practical and moral dimensions,” he said.
He said the government needed to embed into legislation matters such as compensation and the methodology and timing of payments.
“The moment government imposes restrictions, it must immediately trigger appropriate compensation to affected businesses,” he said.
Mr Rogers also urged the Premier to ensure a level playing field between major retailers and the specialty retail sector.
“If a haberdashery store, specialty furniture store or photo shop are forced to close, so must their bigger direct competitors like Lincraft, Ikea, Harvey Norman and Officeworks,” he said.
“Anything less fails any test of fairness and demonstrates to the broader community that the government is not treating all businesses equally.”
Mr Rogers said the government did not seem to comprehend the extent to which the livelihoods of businesses were impacted by current legislation.
“People are struggling, families are struggling,” he said.
“We anxiously await the Palaszczuk government’s immediate recognition of the severity and unfairness of this situation and your immediate steps to remedy this situation.”
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All good and valid points. Would this apply to STA owners too given the fact that planned rentals cannot eventuate.?
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Livestream Meeting: Today 3pm!
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Special opportunity for LNP Branch members, their guests and the local business community to come along and hear from David about the recent State Budget 2021 and what this means for small business and tourism. David is also the Shadow Tourism Minister. See details attached.
Please book via www.trybooking.com/BSIHU, there is a small fee to attend and some great raffle prizes will be available. You are welcome to bring friends and non-members along, this will be an entertaining evening which will showcase the LNP's vision for the future of Queensland.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards - 2021 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Find out more about entering this year's Sunshine Coast Business Awards, how entering can help your business, tips on preparing your entry and much more at free awards workshops. The INFORMATION SESSIONS are free but registration is essential – dates include: Wednesday 23 June, 5.30-7.30pm, The Ginger Factory, 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina. Wednesday 7 July, 5.30-7.30pm, The J Noosa, 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. Tuesday 27 July, 9-11am, Live Zoom Q&A session, with recording available after the session. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION: sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au/
Noosa Workshop: 7th of July, free event, nibbles & drinks provided. Registration is essential: www.trybooking.com/BSBXQ
Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry updated their phone number.
Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry updated their address.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.