Chamber President calls for common sense

Having only been reappointed as President in early September, Hilary Jacobs has hit the ground running as she calls on local candidates to 'fess up' on their stance regarding restrictions.

With the latest retail sales report and data on Australian mortgage deferrals being released, our Chamber President has taken a moment to reflect on its meaning for the wider state. Hilary Jacobs says that:

The latest data on Australian mortgage deferrals make SAD reading for QLD especially the Gold Coast. Six of the ten worst hit suburbs are in Gold Coast! That reflects the hit we're all feeling to tourism, from overseas and more importantly interstate right now!

The report Hilary is referring to has shown that Queensland holds nine positions in the top 10 regions putting mortgage payments on hold, based on credit and repayment data crunched by analysis company Equifax. The Southern Gold Coast region takes a large portion of the positions, a fact which concerns Hilary greatly and speaks volumes on the need for candidates to draw a clear line regarding the future of Queensland restrictions.

The latest retail sales report was an increase of 4% for August, though Hilary has warned members and the wider community against being lulled into a false sense of security:

Don't be lulled into thinking things are getting better! Retail sales are being driven by the supermarkets, DIY, homewares & appliances (we're all building or cleaning up our nests) and fitness gear. There are major stores in QLD supplying online shopping for Melbourne, which skew the sales reported. Small Ma & Pa businesses are still down as much as 50%, some even more, fashion is not selling (they just got their winter stock from China!), the little coffee shops in the malls are trading with half their seating still and are struggling to remain viable.

Hilary says that restrictions such as 4sqm rules or a 50 patron cap are leaving small and local businesses floundering, with no financial support. She has called on all state candidates contesting the seat of Burleigh and Currumbin to come clean on where they stand on the current restrictions and has called on candidates to use common sense to lift restrictions on businesses operating under a Covid-Safe Plan.