Minister for Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Craig Crawford
Queensland’s business community — including First Nations business owners — is working with the Queensland Government to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said the Queensland Government was backing local operators, suppliers and manufacturers to support businesses and jobs statewide.
“As part of the Queensland Government’s COVID-19 response we are backing local businesses and local jobs at a time when it’s needed most,” Mr Crawford said.
“Many Queensland business have boosted their offerings by upskilling staff, diversifying product lines and exploring new ways to operate during very challenging times.
“Queensland businesses have the expertise, knowledge and experience needed to help our state deal with COVID-19 safely and efficiently,” he said.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Queensland Government has funded local businesses, including Aboriginal owned business Multhana, to disinfect thousands of Brisbane buses as part of enhanced daily cleaning.
“Public transport is helping frontline staff get to and from work during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why we’re supporting businesses like Multhana to ramp up cleaning efforts and make sure they’re as safe as possible, while also supporting Queensland jobs,” Mr Bailey said.
Multhana Founder Joseph Wallace said his employees are proud to help keep South East Queenslanders healthy.
“Multhana is supporting clean and safe public transport for commuters, while providing job opportunities for our workforce, which is largely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders,” Mr Wallace said.
“This contract has provided employment opportunities and guaranteed work for more than 80 new and existing cleaning team members during his unprecedented time.
“Our professionally-trained staff use intense sanitisation and disinfectant methods to deep-clean more than 1200 buses across seven depots, seven nights a week,” he said.
“Our work to stop the spread of germs includes thoroughly cleaning driver’s cabins and go-card machines, and using fogging equipment to decontaminate entire buses, including seats, doors and windows.
“We have employed many experienced and hardworking Queenslanders from impacted industries, including the hospitality sector, to meet increased public and private sector demand for specialist cleaning services due to COVID-19.
“Multhana in Kalkadoon language means ‘coming together to help each other’ and this ideology behind our business rings true now, more than ever,” he said.
ENDS
Media contact: Hope Fabillar 0428 343 432
Article originally published here.