Chamber provides FREE memberships

Written on the 23 June 2020 by Gold Coast PR company Consulting Hall

The Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce is providing FREE memberships and FREE webinars during the COVID-19 Crisis.

The Chamber, which is the Gold Coast's peak body for business, now has 400 members and is hoping to grow that figure to more than 500 by the end of July. Its role is to lobby governments on the behalf of business owners, provide networking opportunities and to provide education.

As part of its recent activites, the Gold Coast Central Chamber has been heavily campaign for a reopening of the Queensland border.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall said it was time to open the borders to protect the future of business and the livelihoods of families on the Gold Coast

"Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk must act now for the greater good and open the borders," Mr Hall said.
 

"Before this crisis started, the Gold Coast was the leading light in the State's economy. Now, the Gold Coast is among the worst hit regions in the state with most businesses in the region struggling to survive."

Mr Hall said the border closure had caused enormous headaches during the daily migration of workers from northern New South Wales to the Gold Coast.

He said it was also delaying families and other domestic visitors from planning "their next big adventure to our region".

"The Chamber has strongly supported the steps the State Government has taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the community but now we must be looking towards the road to recovery,'' said Mr Hall.

"While safety has to be the first priority, we simply cannot afford to keep the borders closed for much longer."

Mr Hall said the State Government should also ease restrictions on the city's major attractions such as the theme parks.

"Our theme parks can control their environments more easily than shopping centres, so why have they not been given any guidance as to when they can expect to reopen?

"We need a horizon to which we can plan and a lifeline that businesses can cling to so they can trade their way out of obscurity.

"We have reliable checks and balances already in place between the COVID safe app and COVID safe plans to allow for people to make personal decisions.

"The State Government cannot ignore the facts; our business confidence is at an all-time low and it will not improve without this necessary stimulation."

The first ever Gold Coast Pulse Survey Report, which is a joint initiative between CCIQ and Gold Coast Chambers of Commerce, found that three quarters (75%) of the business owners and operators surveyed reported weaker turnover during the March quarter. Only 11 per cent of businesses experienced stronger sales and revenues.

The study found an overwhelming number of companies (88%) anticipated further downturns as the impact from the pandemic continued.

Other findings included:

• More than one half of respondents experienced a fall in turnover of more than 50%
• One third reported a fall in turnover greater than 80%
• 4 in 10 businesses maintained only essential operations and staff
• 3 in 10 businesses encouraged their employees to work from home
• one quarter of the businesses adopted alternative working arrangements
• 4 in 10 businesses reduced their working hours
• one quarter of the businesses laid off their casual workers
• 20% of businesses asked their employees to take leave.