THE JobKeeper extension announcement by the Federal Government is welcome news, delivering on an important step towards securing the future for Australia’s export tourism industry.

“The extension of Jobkeeper has been highly anticipated by businesses across the economy and none will be more grateful than Australia’s tourism industry to see its continuation,” ATEC managing director Peter Shelley said.

“This extension will give tourism operators the security of knowing they can plan about retention of staff and management of resources moving forward as they attempt to navigate a difficult period between now and when the international borders re-open.

“Tourism businesses have been hit hard this year not just by COVID, but by bushfires, drought, floods - but they want to get back to business and are waiting eagerly to welcome back their international visitors. Having skilled staff ready and waiting to go will be a critical factor in the speed of their rebuild.”

Mr Shelley said while the new March extension date would be helpful for some tourism businesses, there will be many internationally focused businesses which will require further support and sadly, some who will not survive the distance.

“There are many, many businesses which have invested heavily in building tourism products which appeal to international visitors like reef and rainforest experiences,  unique bridge climbs, natural attractions, indigenous tours, food and wine experiences and eco resorts - and these experiences have helped to deliver huge export income for our economy," Mr Shelley said.

“These businesses need to be preserved, along with our valuable inbound tourism operator distribution businesses, in order to ensure we can reignite export tourism once borders open.

“Our research showed 90 percent of export tourism businesses are currently accessing JobKeeper and 55 percent say they need borders open by the end of the year to be viable, so we needed a solution to support those businesses to hold on until international borders open.

“We therefore welcome the JobKeeper extension news and congratulate the Government on its commitment to supporting the tourism industry. 

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will work with the Government to find solutions we believe will further protect our industry including overheads subsidy support, capital grants, re-boot grants and developing a timeline for the eventual reopening of our international borders.”

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THE extension of the JobKeeper wage subsidy program will provide a further “airbag” for the Australian economy, according to the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA).

The Federal Government has announced that the JobKeeper program will be extended until the end of March next year, but with reduced fortnightly payments and stricter eligibility criteria.

PIPA chairman Peter Koulizos said the wage subsidy extension would help to soften the economic blow from the pandemic.

“We need to accept that the economic impact of COVID19 is going to be significant,” Mr Koulizos said.

“However, if the various stimulus initiatives and financial support packages hadn’t been implemented, then the fallout would have been severe. In essence, these measures are providing an economic airbag to help slow down, and soften, the impact that we all know is coming.”

Mr Koulizos said a similar strategy of stimulus initiatives was employed during the GFC that ultimately resulted in the Australian economy avoiding a recession.

“Those stimulus packages were vital in keeping people employed during that protracted global downturn,” he said.

“This time, it’s clear we won’t be able to avoid a recession, but these programs will help to prevent our economy languishing for the long-term.”

The tightening of JobKeeper eligibility criteria announced today would also mean that the wage subsidy would be targeted to the people who really need it, Mr Koulizos said.

“The extension, as well as the continuance of mortgage repayment pauses, will benefit homeowners, landlords and tenants who continue to need financial support over coming months,” he said.

Mr Koulizos said the wage subsidy extension also provided some much-needed preparation time for people whose employment was looking tenuous.

“The JobKeeper extension gives people more time to organise alternatives, such as retraining or studying, if their current job is not secure,” he said.

“It also gives people time to breathe and prepare – rather than starting to panic about how to financially survive post-September.”

About PIPA

Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) is a not-for-profit association established by industry practitioners with the objective of representing and raising the professional standards of all operators involved within property investment.

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THE INQUIRY into food pricing and food security in remote Indigenous communities will hold further public hearings over two days this week.

Julian Leeser MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Indigenous Affairs Committee, said the Committee would hear from key stakeholders from the Northern Territory and New South Wales including Land councils, other Indigenous peak bodies and agencies, leading academics, the Northern Territory Government, and key industry players such as Woolworths and Metcash.

"The collective expertise among the witnesses who will appear is extensive, and I look forward to hearing the insights they will share," Mr Leeser said.

"It is very important that the committee gets a thorough understanding of the food pricing and food security issues that are affecting remote Aboriginal communities. We look forward to hearing from witnesses about what dynamics are involved and what can be done to improve the situation."

The hearings will be conducted via telephone and video links due to social distancing requirements relating to COVID-19. Full programs are available at the inquiry website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 9am to 5pm AEST
Location: Via conference call

Date: Friday 24 July
Time: 9am to 2.20pm AEST
Location: Via conference call

An audio broadcast will be accessible at aph.gov.au/live

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A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s defence, trade and international relations will turn its attention to public health at its next public hearing.

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, said the pandemic had exposed problems in Australia’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment supply chains.

Senator Fawcett said,  “Although our health system is amongst the best in the world, it can’t function without reliable supplies of drugs and equipment, especially during severe public health events like the pandemic.”

Witnesses from Aspen Medical, an Australian-owned health services supplier, and the Public Health Association of Australia will give evidence on aspects of Australia’s healthcare response to the pandemic.

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website. Submissions can be made until 24 July 2020.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 23 July
Time: 3pm – 4.30 pm AEST 
Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live

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