Latest news and updates
  • Last updated:
  • 14 May 2020

Council is committed to supporting Queensland Health as the lead agency responsible for responding to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and will ensure our business community is kept informed. If you have any health concerns please call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or find up-to-date reliable information on the Queensland Health website.

Stay informed

Download the official government “Coronavirus Australia” and COVID-Safe apps in the Apple App Store or Google Play, there is a section for a businesses and employees and a way to report self isolation and so much more. Also, join the WhatsApp channel on iOS or Android.

May 13

  • From Saturday 16 May, nail and beauty salons can open for a maximum of 10 clients.

May 11

May 9

  • Queensland Government doubles funding for twelve month interest free business loans.

May 8

May 7

  • The Queensland Government announced that businesses will not pay payroll tax on JobKeeper payments.

May 6

  • Support package for Queensland explorers announced with an aim of supporting resources jobs and projects. This will include a 12-month waiver of rent on exploration land due between 1 April and 1 September, and a freeze on fees and charges until 1 July 2021.

May 5

  • Deliveroo announces removal of commission fees for pick-up orders and lower commission rates for restaurants who provide their own delivery.

 April 28

  • More than 6000 farmers, businesses, tourism operators, and community and sports clubs, won’t have to pay state land rent for six months under a series of measures to protect Queensland businesses and jobs. 
  • Restrictions on elective surgery will gradually ease from today.

April 27

  • Vital information about feeding and caring for livestock in a drought is now being delivered online by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, to support social distancing measures.

April 26

April 25

April 24

April 23

  • Queensland legal practitioners able to use video conferencing technology to conduct a range of transactions that usually require face-to-face meetings. The making of documents such as wills, general powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney, advance health directives, statutory declarations, deeds and many other types of documents are also available under the modified arrangements.

April 22

  • Job seekers will be exempt from reporting their mutual obligation requirements up to and including 22 May 2020. 
  • The ‘Non-essential business, activity and undertaking Closure Direction’ has been updated to clarify
    the number of funeral attendees to be a maximum of 10 mourners and three funeral officials, and for
    other religious services, a maximum of five people can attend including officials and (if relevant) a
    camera operator. 

April 21

April 16

  • Queensland Government and Small Business Champion to meet with stakeholders on Monday to try to reduce delivery costs for small businesses.
  • All Queensland job seekers can register their details, skills and location via the Jobs Finder Queensland portal and access free online training.
  • A new online rental hub has information and resources to help tenants, property owners and agents negotiate new arrangements if the tenants are financially impacted by COVID-19. 

April 14

  • ASIC provides temporary relief measures to assist industry in providing consumers with affordable and timely financial advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

April 13

  • $3 million further funding to support frontline health workers with training and information on the treatment of coronavirus.

April 12

  • A new Higher Education Relief Package will support workers who have been displaced as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and who are looking to upskill or retrain. It will also provide funding certainty to higher education providers.

April 10

  • Qld service stations with dedicated truck rest stops granted a special exemption to stay open to support drivers carrying essential freight. 

April 9

  • Council provides a new Level-Up blog post to support you in working remotely - Survive and Thrive: Working Remotely Guide for Employers!
  • Hardship provisions for energy, water and other charges - the National Cabinet agreed to a nationally consistent approach to hardship support across the essential services for households and small businesses that are eligible for the JobKeeper payment, including:
    • offering flexible payment options to all households and small businesses in financial stress;
    • not disconnecting restricting supply/services to those in financial stress;
    • deferring debt recovery proceedings and credit default listing;
    • waiving late fees and interest charges on debt; and
    • minimising planned outages for critical works, and provide as much notice as possible to assist households and businesses during any outage.

April 8

  • Council launches second business support package: 
    • Professional Advice Support Program - offering access to professional business advice from local accounting, legal and human resources firms, to assist local businesses make critical decisions about their operations and their future. This service provides a free initial consultation to businesses that employ up to 19 staff and have a turnover of less than $5 million.
    • Information resources - helping businesses transition to operating in this new environment by linking them with local online service providers, video conferencing and IT specialists and providing useful resources.
    • Business signage - business signage will be available to support businesses that have to alter their service arrangements such as providing takeaway/delivery signs outside cafes and restaurants and advice to customers on how to access online services.
    • Community and commercial lease relief – community and commercial lessees of council properties will be eligible for a rent waiver from March 1 to June 30. Council will contact eligible groups.
    • Capital works – up to $3 million in capital works projects will be brought forward to support local jobs and to keep money circulating in the local economy. These works will be on council facilities that have been temporarily closed. Details of projects will be released in the coming weeks.

April 7

  • Commercial tenancies: A mandatory code of conduct to support landlords and tenants has been developed by the Australian Government. Queensland's implementation, including legislative and regulatory changes, will be announced. Read the Prime Minister's announcement.
  • Cruise ships have been officially banned from entering Queensland waters and any remaining vessels must leave by tomorrow night.

April 6

  • Queensland Government announces three-month gaming tax deferral for pubs and clubs to support businesses. 

April 3

  • Working holiday visa holders must register for self-isolation before travelling to another area to work so they can show a potential employer they have followed the health rules. Employers are asked to please check this isolation period is complete before work begins again outside the home. Working holiday and seasonal workers are to use the Harvest Labour website to register and seek for work and should not approach farms directly.
  • Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package to give families fee relief while supporting childcare services to keep their doors open and employees in their jobs.
  • The Queensland Government's dedicated Qld COVID-19 website is now live.

 April 1

  • The Australian Government has released a COVID-19 Job Hub to help the many employees that have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and reducing workforces, to more easily access jobs in health and care sectors, transport and logistics, some areas of retail, mining and mining services, manufacturing, agriculture and government sectors, among others that are experiencing increases in demand.
  • Federal Government announces $49.8 million support package for Export Market Development Grants, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services.
  • Queensland border restrictions tighten. Only Queensland residents and those considered exempt from the restrictions can enter the state Queensland from 12.01am Friday, April 3, 2020. People with an exemption must have a border pass prior to crossing the border. Freight transport services are exempt and will be allowed through without a border pass permit. The restrictions will replace the current arrangements which enable people to cross the border provided they self-quarantine for 14 days. 

March 31

  • Chief Health Officer announces licensed armourers and dealers may store, modify, repair, acquire or supply weapons and ammunition for those industries and individuals who need licensed armourers and licensed dealers to carry out their work.
  • Only critical interstate fly-in-fly-out mine workers will be allowed into Queensland to protect remote and regional communities and local mine workforces.

March 30

  • Federal Government makes third stimulus package announcement, saying businesses will receive fortnightly wage subsidy up to $1500 per employee to reduce job losses in a JobKeeper payment. JobSeekers can receive payments as long as their partners earn below $80,000.
  • Update on vulnerable employees in workplace -  National Cabinet endorsed the AHPPC advice that: Where vulnerable workers undertake essential work, a risk assessment must be undertaken. Risk needs to be assessed and mitigated with consideration of the characteristics of the worker, the workplace and the work. This includes ensuring vulnerable people are redeployed to non-customer based roles where possible. Where risk cannot be appropriately mitigated, employers and employees should consider alternate arrangements to accommodate a workplace absence. Special provisions apply to essential workers who are at higher risk of serious illness and, where the risk cannot be sufficiently mitigated, should not work in high risk settings.
  • Council announces it will not be charging interest on outstanding rate payments and will not be pursuing outstanding rates at this time.

March 29

  • Federal Government releases new COVID-19 app and WhatsApp group (send a message to +61400253787 to join) for all Australians to stay up to date and to register if they are self isolating.
  • Federal Government states that commercial property owners should ensure that any benefits received in respect of their properties should also benefit their tenants in proportion to the economic impact caused by coronavirus.
  • Social gatherings reduced to two people both inside and outside, unless immediate family members living together.
  • Hotels, convention centres and mining camps being considered by Queensland Government as temporary hospitals.

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