Crunch time for tourism industry revealed

The Federal Tourism Minister has flagged ongoing support for the industry, but businesses will be forced to wait for the details.

Tourism businesses will have to wait until early March to find out what kind of support the will receive after JobKeeper ends, but Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says it is “100 per cent my aim” that there will still be support.

He revealed the new support will not be an extension of JobKeeper, but once the details are finalised that it would be “targeted and temporary” and provide direct relief.

Mr Tehan also said he was hopeful there would be travel bubbles this year, before a broader reopening of international travel next year under a “best scenario”.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Picture: Brendan Radke

It follows the first two days of a Queensland tourism tour, seeking feedback from businesses about what help they wanted after JobKeeper.

Speaking to The Courier-Mail, Mr Tehan said he understood businesses wanted to know what the plan was now, but the data was still being gathered and plans finalised with their feedback.

“It will be targeted and temporary, consistent with other measures put in place, but exactly what form it takes is open for discussion,” he said.

“We have successfully run various programs throughout the pandemic to provide support. The simpler and more straight forward way we can do it, while providing the most direct support, the better.”

He would not speculate on whether it would be a new form of wage subsidy, a grant program similar to that provided to travel agents, but said “nothing is off the table”.

The Federal Government has been under increasing pressure to detail its plans to replace JobKeeper for tourism businesses, with regions reliant on international tourism like Cairns particular hard hit by the pandemic.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been pressuring the Federal Government to extend JobKeeper for tourism operators, urging Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to visit the region.

Mr Tehan said there was “widespread anger” at frequent state border closures and there were calls for a national hotspot definition to be adhered to.

“They want notice given of up to 48 hours before any border closure would take place,” Mr Tehan said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese criticised Mr Tehan for not making any commitments to tourism operators during his trip.

“He came to hear that there’s been a downturn in the tourism industry. Well, he didn’t have to visit to know that,” Mr Albanese said.

The Tourism Minister will remain in the state speaking with industry until Thursday, having visited Port Douglas, Cairns and the Whitsundays since Monday.