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Another big current topic is the situation with Virgin Australia. QTIC is urging the Federal Government to work with the airlines to ensure Australia can continue to benefit from a competitive, domestic aviation market. There is no doubt that without the competitive dynamics of airlines over the last two decades, domestic tourism would not have thrived as it has – particularly in regional Queensland. It is in all our interest to protect aviation, it an essential service for Australia. It is also worth remembering that the government has been actively and variously involved, as an owner, funder and provider of regulatory protection for aviation in Australia for decades. We are not alone in this, the US government has just announced a support package of its aviation sector of close to A$40 billion. It seems to matter to them.
Daniel Gschwind
Chief Executive
Local Government Elections
As the results of the Local Government Elections are officially confirmed, QTIC is writing to every single one of the new and returning Mayors and Councillors, reminding them of the importance of tourism as the lifeblood of communities. We will also provide them with an economic ‘snapshot’ of tourism (pre-COVID-19) in their region.
Tourism drives state and local economies and when the tourism dollar stops, everybody notices that ‘tourism is everyone’s business’ – a phrase that gains a lot of traction during the Pilots’ Dispute all those years ago. There are not many parts of the economy that tourism doesn’t touch and support in some way.
Local government plays a critical role in tourism and is a major stakeholder. We will urge the elected local politicians to continue supporting tourism as it struggles through its most challenging conditions. We will continue to work with our local government partners to advocate for our industry in every corner of the state.
JobKeeper Update
As outlined by the Minister, there are JobKeeper Guidelines and FAQs published by Treasury to assist employers in accessing and managing the JobKeeper payment scheme. Below is the link to Treasury’s page with the downloadable pdf links for your reference, as well as the link to the payment guide produced by ACCI’s WR team. The guide answers many questions we have received in relation to this and may give employers more confidence to take up the opportunity. The Minister tells us that so far 830,000 business have registered for JobKeeper, potentially covering 6 million employees. Don’t miss out!
Our partners at FCB have also prepared concise information on this. Please feel free to direct any questions to us and we will try to find the answers for you. You may also choose to use our dedicated helpline FCB: 02 9083 0033 (Mon-Fri)
Export Capital Facility
As announced by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Australian Government has established a $500 million COVID-19 Export Capital Facility to assist previously profitable Australian exporters whose businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. Exporters will be able to access loans from $250,000 to $50 million under the Facility. The Facility will complement other measures announced by the Government which enable banks to support new and existing clients. Exporters should contact their banks in the first instance to determine what assistance may be available to them. More information is attached in the below fact sheet.
Export Finance Australia fact sheet
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