The New Normal – 11 Resources for Managing Your Business and Living with COVID-19 – JUNE/JULY 2020
The New Normal – 11 Resources for Managing Your Business and Living with COVID-19 – JUNE/JULY 2020
Here's a brief summary of the latest offerings from various government agencies and local providers collated during June and July.
For Chamber members, to help you navigate what’s available and on offer we have created a “COVID-19 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES” section in Chamber’s Members Information Centre (MIC) online, which is updated as new information comes to hand.
Go to Chamber’s website and use your own unique login to the Members Centre.
Please contact one of the MC team if you need help with your login, and if you can’t remember, simply click the forgot login option and follow the instructions.
Recent additions to MIC resources and links are listed below.
Directives, guidelines and restrictions as outlined in the Queensland Government Stage 3 Roadmap Commenced 12 Noon July 3, 2020.
To assist you and your business through this next phase visit the Queensland Government website dedicated COVID-19 portal to find out what you can do and which services are open or restricted as changes are made.
This portal is where you will find specifically detailed sections, which are updated as listed on the site.
Content includes essential information; latest updates and announcements; staying home and going out; family, friends and community; business, industry and working safety, and resources and translations for various populations.
“Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No.4)” aligns with Stage 3 of the government’s easing of restrictions. In Stage 3 all businesses can open, in line with the COVID Safe Framework.
The following is an extract from the Queensland Government website to help you understand what’s changed:
All businesses may now have one person per 4 square metres on their premises. Businesses with floor space less than 200 square metres can have one person per 2 square metres, up to 50 people at a time.
From midday 3 July 2020, this includes:
- sport stadiums will be able to fill 50 per cent of their stadiums or seat 25,000 spectators (whichever is less)
- concert venues, theatres and auditoriums can have up to 50 per cent capacity or one person per 4 square metres (whichever is greater)
- museums, art galleries, libraries and historic sites can have one person per 4 square metres
- non-therapeutic massage services and water-based spa services such as saunas and bathhouses will be able to operate
- food courts will be able to open
- nightclubs can operate in accordance with an Approved Plan
- strip clubs, brothels, sex on premises venues and sole operator sex workers can operate with an Approved Plan
- wedding ceremonies and funerals may have up to 100 people.
Those businesses that have not been required to close (e.g. grocery stores) can continue to operate as they have been.
Note: physical distancing rules still apply. So wherever possible, people should remain 1.5 metres away from others (except if they are in the same group).
For full details, read the official public health direction here
Do you have questions about the latest “Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No.4)” by the Queensland Government?
For answers to the most frequently asked questions compiled by the Queensland Government on directives associated with Stage 3 businesses, activities and undertakings, which commenced from midday 3 July 2020, READ MORE HERE...
The COVID Safe Framework, comprising of four compliance categories, sets out what requirements businesses under the Direction must comply with. Depending on the type of business or event, these requirements will be different.
New guidance is now available from the Queensland Government on the COVID-19 website for businesses wanting to understand the COVID Safe Businesses framework, and how industries can submit Industry COVID Safe Plans for approval to operate with more customers than the baseline restrictions in the Roadmap to Easing Restrictions.
Queensland’s Roadmap to Easing COVID-19 restrictions outlines a staged approach to giving Queenslanders more freedom to travel, participate in more activities and hold more gatherings.
The Roadmap is available to download on the Queensland Government website, along with the various stages and associated restrictions for businesses, activities and undertaking; border restrictions; going out, travel, recreation and gatherings.
To find out what this means for your business READ MORE HERE...
If your business has been impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for financial assistance or other types of relief. This tool by Business Queensland will help you discover what support is available from the Queensland and Australian governments, plus Queensland local councils.
You can also call the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687 for further guidance, or take their business impact survey to be linked with relevant support.
The Australian Government has released a "Continuing Your Business Guide", created in acknowledgement of the devastating effects on business from the recent Australian bushfires and coronavirus.
It provides information on positive steps to help keep a business operating, including planning your recovery, getting support and assistance, assessing your finances, keeping your operations running, reaching out to customers and protecting a business.
Queensland’s Small Business Champion, Maree Adshead has been announced as the Queensland Small Business Commissioner, to help small business recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small business tenants and landlords whose trade has been affected by COVID-19 can seek assistance with resolving lease disputes and access a free mediation service offered by the Commissioner.
For key updates on paying rent, access to grants, loans and support, and COVID-Safe business requirements read Maree Adshead's latest news releases here
Small Business tenants and landlords whose trade has been affected by COVID-19 can seek assistance with resolving lease disputes and access a free mediation service offered by the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.
VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE for more information.
The QTIC and the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) have launched an online tool to help QLD Tourism businesses develop their own “COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan” in preparation for the various stages of recovery as restrictions are eased.
The Recovery Plan focuses on five key activities, including Assessing the Current Situation; Developing a Business Continuity Action Plan; Staff Management; Financial Analysis; Operational Recovery, and Marketing and Communications.
The new module is free to access for all QLD Tourism businesses and can be accessed via the QTIC-ATIC Quality Tourism Australia accreditation portal.
Business Queensland offer an extensive one-stop-portal of Coronavirus (COVID-19) information, support, resources and current initiatives for business and industry from the Queensland and Australian Governments.
The website is regularly updated as announcements are made and new information and assistance comes to hand.