Post-JobKeeper plan: Adelaide’s small bars, SA tourism sector hoping for lifeline

A variety of options to help the tourism sector survive are being looked at for when JobKeeper ends - but small bars, nightclubs and hotels will need help too.

Roman Tazhdynov in his Bibliotheca bar in Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz

Adelaide’s small bar scene is braced for JobKeeper to end - but a new lifeline to help keep the tourism sector afloat will be announced as early as next week.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says Federal Government ministers discussed a “variety of options” to support the sector when they met on Wednesday.

South Australia’s tourism sector wants direct support for businesses, such as temporary cash flow boosts, to be launched after JobKeeper ends on March 28.

Mr Tehan told a tourism forum in Sydney on Thursday the government’s “post-JobKeeper plan” would be unveiled early this month.

Bibliotheca Bar and Book Exchange owner Marina Tazhdynova said small business grants and a campaign to encourage more people into the CBD would help venues.

“When the small business grants came out, that was really awesome and helped a lot, and because it’s a one off you can plan on getting rid of your debts or ... plan on something else,” Ms Tazhdynova said.

Roman Tazhdynov in his Bibliotheca bar in Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz

Bibliotheca did not qualify for JobKeeper 2.0, bizarrely because of roadworks in 2019.

The venue’s turnover has been down in the pandemic but not down enough compared to an already low level in 2019 to qualify.

Ms Tazhdynova said she had been working six days and doing “massive” double shifts to keep the venue open as it couldn’t afford another employee at this time.

Tourism Industry Council SA chief executive Shaun de Bruyn expected an announcement was “imminent” on the next phase of support.

He said direct support like the cash flow boosts of $20,000 to $100,000, which were part of the initial COVID-19 relief measures, would help after JobKeeper for tourism businesses still hit hard by the pandemic.

“It will save many thousands of jobs here in SA and it will provide the certainty that business owners need to work through the next six months as the vaccine is rolling out across the country,” he said.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan during Question Time in Parliament House. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr de Bruyn backed hospitality businesses also getting support as there was “strong crossover” with the tourism sector.

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Ian Horne said many hospitality businesses no longer qualified for JobKeeper, but nightclubs, live music or late night venues, and accommodation venues that relied heavily on interstate or overseas tourists would still need support.

There would be “significant casualties” if there was no further support after JobKeeper, he said.

Mr Tehan warned Federal Government support alone would not be enough for tourism to survive and thrive, and that states and territories would need more consistent approaches to borders.

He urged them to take a “shut down as a last option” approach.