The Queensland government has announced today a new $500 million loan facility, interest free for the first 12 months, to support businesses and keep Queenslanders in work.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the rapidly evolving impacts of the coronavirus demanded a rapidly evolving response from Government.

“We know just how tough Queensland families and businesses are doing it in the face of this pandemic,” the Premier said.

“We know the effects of this outbreak will grow and intensify, and as they do, so will our measures to protect Queenslanders health, their jobs and their businesses.”

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the $500 million concessional loan facility would comprise loans of up to $250,000 with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff.

“The Queensland Government already backs farms and businesses with assistance loans in times of natural disasters,” Ms Trad said.

“Through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, we already have the mechanism in place to start rolling these loans out the door as soon as possible to help Queensland businesses keep staff on and survive this downturn.”

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The state government has also announced it will extend the coronavirus payroll tax deferral to all businesses across the state.

Ms Trad said in just two weeks, the initial offer of payroll tax deferral had already been taken up by almost 300 small and medium businesses.

“As the Prime Minister has pointed out, it’s small businesses that are hurting the most, and its them we moved to help first with our initial payroll tax deferral earlier this month,” she said.

“But we are seeing this outbreak is having a devastating impact on all Queensland companies, large and small, so now we will extend the offer of a six-month payroll tax deferral to all affected businesses across the state.”

“We know the deferral for small businesses was popular – in the first fortnight we’ve already seen companies from the Gold Coast to Far North Queensland in sectors from tourism and hospitality to marine engineering take up the offer.”

As with the initial payroll tax deferral offer, the Office of State Revenue will also work with affected businesses to create repayment plans for the deferred tax liabilities.

Information on the concessional loans will be available at www.qrida.qld.gov.au from the end of this week.

Information on payroll tax deferral can be found at www.osr.qld.gov.au 

This comes on the back of the State Government's announcement last month that Queensland business owners hit hard by the coronavirus will share in more than $27 million in assistance.

Highlights of this package include:

• $7 million in international tourism promotion
• $4.8 million targeted for the Tropical Far North and Gold Coast regions
• Waiving fees for fishers
• Waiving fees associated with liquor licences
• Deferring tourism lease payments
• Rebates for marina and jetty fees
• Waive quota fees for rock lobster and coral trout

Find out more about this industry recovery package here.