During this unprecedented and challenging time for Queensland pubs, I want to reassure all licensees of the Queensland Government’s support for your industry. The hotel sector is a highly valued resource in the community, and the government is committed to helping licensees come through this crisis and move toward a prosperous future.
I am grateful for the cooperation shown by so many dedicated business owners who have worked hard to adapt to the restrictions placed on them at this time. It’s also inspiring to see the ingenuity of those who have come up with innovative solutions and shared them with industry at large.
The Queensland Government is providing practical support to pubs to get through this crisis. In April, I announced the government’s tax relief package, which is designed to alleviate some of the pressure on licensees grappling with the effects of coronavirus crisis.
The government will deliver a three-month deferral on gaming machine taxes from April to June.
Licensees who have already paid their gaming machine taxes for March will have their payments returned to them.
These measures come on top of the $22.7 million the government has already waived in liquor licensing renewal fees for 2020/21 for pubs and clubs.
This taxation relief is part of the broader package to help support business and economic activity, including:
- payroll tax deferrals and refunds
- low interest loans and
- energy rebates.
Going to your local pub isn’t an option right now, but when this crisis is over we want these community hubs to be there for Queenslanders.
