New digital hub connecting Queensland businesses impacted by TC Debbie

Published Saturday, 06 May, 2017 at 12:16 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

The Palaszczuk Government today launched the Go Local online hub to help business and industry impacted by ex-Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the online hub was a single point of contact for businesses to access recovery information delivering practical tools and resources.

“Local business are the backbone of our communities and this new website is designed to help them get back on their feet faster,” the Premier said.

“My Government’s ‘Go Local’ campaign will help businesses bounce back and support Queensland’s long-term social and economic recovery efforts.”

STC Debbie crossed the Queensland coast as Category 4 system on 28 March, causing widespread devastation to the Whitsunday Islands, Bowen, Proserpine with heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding extended through central and south-east Queensland.

More than 65,000 grants approved, at a total of more than $26.6 million, was paid for affected families and individuals under the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. More than 10,000 properties assessed for damage with 2300 deemed damaged and 899 of those uninhabitable

Minister for Small Business and Innovation Leeanne Enoch said every Queenslander can also play a key part in promoting the ‘Go Local’ initiative by sharing the message online and through social media. 

“I want the community to embrace the Go Local initiative and give businesses in their regions a helping hand,” she said.

“If you’re out and about, make sure you get behind our local business and share a picture of a local businesses using the hashtag #GoLocal so we can spread this important message and encourage friends and family to get on board.

“Launching the Go Local online hub forms part of a broader Go Local campaign featuring a number of initiatives the government is supporting.”

The Premier said the Go Local online hub provides a range of resources for business.

“The hub delivers a range of helpful tips for business, industry and primary producers on what to do after a natural disaster, and features an advertising toolkit to help them promote their goods and services to Queenslanders,” the Premier said.

The advertising toolkit has a number of Go Local branded posters for businesses to print and place in their shop or business window.

Visit www.qld.gov.au/golocal to access the Go Local hub and support Queensland business impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.