From the CEO

With the latest Home Confinement Directive changing the way we all approach life day to day, we continue to roll with the punches and try to appreciate the little things in each day.

Our team is continuing to refresh our website on a daily basis with all of the federal, state and local updates and links: https://www.bundabergregion.org/covid-19-industry-support If you notice that we’ve missed something, please let us know.

We have asked the Queensland Govt for greater clarity around essential and non-essential services, in particular for our accommodation properties.   Here is the current advice, and we will distribute the further detail when available.

Yesterday afternoon the Federal Government announced the third round of stimulus in the form of JobKeeper Payments, a funding package that had many of us crying with tears of joy in these hard times.

We need to thank our partners at Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for continuing to advocate for a wage-subsidy approach similar to the welfare approach delivered in previous rounds of stimulus.

Whilst we’re still deciphering the detail, here are the key points:

  • $1500 per fortnight per employee;
  • Cash flow mid-May, backdated to yesterday;
  • Available to those employed on the 1st March or stood down since the 1st  March, including:
    • Full & Part Time employees
    • Sole traders
    • Casuals who have been with you for longer than 12 months
    • Each employees wages needs be increased to a minimum of $1500 per fortnight to receive the subsidy.
    • Superannuation on the increased wages is not compulsory.
  • To be an eligible employer for this payment, you need to be able to show your turnover has decreased by 30% due to COVID-19.

Boosting cash flow for employers  - provides up to $100,000 back to small and medium-sized businesses, with a minimum payment of $20,000 for eligible businesses. The payment will be tax free.

Support for immediate cash flow needs for SMEs – under the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, the Australian Government will provide a guarantee of 50% to support short-term loans. 

Marketing

Many of our industry have asked how you should be approaching marketing during the crisis. So the team have put together this simple guide to help you over the coming months. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there's any way our team can help!

Connecting

The Bundaberg Business Enterprise Centre (BBEC) is inviting you to a “Business Check-In” via Zoom this Thursday from 10am – 11am. This will be a chance to connect, discuss how your business is doing, share ideas about how to manage through this period and to let the BBEC (and BT) know what support your business needs.
 
You are welcome to join in and participate or just observe. When you register here, an email will be sent with details of how to join the link-up.

Also, try to stay connected with us via the Bundaberg Tourism Facebook page as well.

Impact Survey

We are also working with the BBEC to continue to collect input to the business impacts survey – we would appreciate if you haven’t already, to please complete brief survey about the economic losses experienced during this time.  We are collating this information as a snapshot for the Bundaberg Region, to feed into government the impacts being felt locally.  The additional question about areas you need assistance with is also helpful for us to question government for clarity, or to seek resources to put the right people in place to be able to assist you.     

What’s New With You?

We are constantly seeking positive content to share with our audiences, our community, our media networks, to keep spirits high.  Whatever you are doing, please email us, tag us on social media (@VisitBundaberg and @BundabergTourism), call us – just get in touch.  Regardless of what stage you’re at – from idea to finished project – we can only help you if we know what you’re working on! ?

Team BT are now all working from home…still available however via email, Facebook or Zendesk chat via our website.   

Keep safe and whilst we’re all physically distanced, please try to stay connected with each other.

Katherine