QRAMA is an organisation that seeks to work with all levels of Government as a responsible industry organisation representing the many and diverse interests of our members, who are spread throughout Queensland.

While our primary aim is to ensure that owners of management rights, who make up our membership, and the resident accommodation management industry remain viable, profitable and grow, we undertake a number of other collective services.

Many of these revolve around the review and development of new legislation and, regulations with all three levels of Government. We are also in touch with relevant industry and community organisations, because of our clear association with the travel and tourist industry.

We take a keen interest in the bread and butter issues which impact daily on our members. The QRAMA charter is broad because we are providing information to potential new investors in the industry, support, counsel and training for new industry members and advice on issues ranging from troublesome guests, holiday packaging, rights and responsibilities and community involvement in the business of their local and regional areas.

In this month’s Resort News there is a long article about a funding issue which has embraced one of our Tropical North Queensland members. The issue has a significant impact on our industry – an industry that seeks to play its role in generating international tourist and holiday business for Queensland. I urge you to read the story because it reveals that “red tape” and interpretation of laws precludes the people who they were designed to help from participating.

We all know that tourism is a growing and flourishing industry important to Australia because it helps grow domestic businesses right across the board. In this instance, an international holiday building north of Cairns has been denied an Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) from the Commonwealth Government because under its management it complies with State legislation, but apparently not with the small print in the Commonwealth regulations.  Austrade has approved the Grant to agents who own no property but refused the Grant to the manager and operator of strata titled buildings because the manager does not own all the property. 

QRAMA has gone about its business and with the building manager made representations to the appropriate Federal Ministers to have the matter re-examined on the basis of the previous history of eligibility and the fact that the grant money will be used to promote the building in the international market place as is the purpose of the EMDG.

We are continuing to support our member in seeking redress of this situation. In this instance, we believe that the industry should be aware of the daily pitfalls that face businesses and the difference between policy and regulation. All industry members should be aware of how circumstances can change to your detriment, as our member had moved into business believing that there was a significant grant available for international marketing.  Other QRAMA members are discouraged by the Austrade approach from promoting their own building but may receive a grant when they use an agent.

QRAMA would be interested in learning of other industry issues, which need to be challenged.

ENDS