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The Queensland Government has called a meeting for Monday to address ways of tackling the delivery fee burden on restaurants and cafés.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman says key stakeholders will come together to discuss the issue of "exorbitant delivery fees as a matter of urgency".
"The last thing we want to see [is] struggling businesses hit with high fees from delivery companies - it's not the Queensland way," says the minister.
"Many of our restaurant and café owners have been forced to shut their doors and operate solely on takeaway and delivery orders due to the Covid-19 crisis.
"Small businesses have had to innovate and think fast, pivoting their business to online and takeaway."
Fentiman says these businesses deserve a "fair go" in this time of crisis, but delivery companies such Uber Eats and Deliveroo will often charge up to 35 per cent commission, leaving businesses to bear the cost.
"We need our food and beverage businesses to be open, not just now but also once the economy recovers,"
"They will play a driving force in kick starting local economies and job growth once the pandemic is over."
The minister says cafés and restaurants are experiencing downturns of up to 90 per cent.
"We aim to help small businesses by making home delivery work for them as well as for the delivery services and the customers," she says.
Queensland's Small Business Champion, Maree Adshead, welcomes Monday's meeting.
"Opening the lines of communication and exploring ways to better support and inform small businesses is important. As we all know, small Businesses across Queensland are doing it tough," Ms Adshead said.
"I look forward to addressing these issues with stakeholders on Monday."
One food precinct in northern Brisbane has launched its own app in a bid to reduce reliance on Uber, while Uber Eats has offered new payment options and extra marketing spend to help some foodservice providers rise to the challenge.
Photo: Cyclonebill, via Creative Commons.
Updated at 2:12pm AEST on 16 April 2020.
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