Disappointment at lack of support for ‘COVID devastation epicentre’

The battered tourism industry has been waiting for Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to deliver some good news during a trip to Queensland’s far north. But his offering wasn’t what they expected.

The Tourism industry was “palpably disappointed” following Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s failure to announce economic support during his visit to the “epicentre of COVID devastation”.

Queensland tourism heavyweights were hopeful Mr Frydenberg’s visit to Cairns yesterday would deliver a plan to support their battered industry following the end of the JobKeeper wage subsidy on March 28.

Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg spoke at an economic briefing breakfast in Cairns but his message was met with “palpable disappointment”. Picture: Brendan Radke

But Mr Frydenberg did not reveal any specifics while in the city, saying the government was “finalising” details which would be announced in “a matter of days”.

Queensland Tourism Industry Association chief executive Daniel Gschwind said there were “great expectations” for the visit but Mr Frydenberg “really had nothing to offer other than restatement of the fact that the economy was going better than expected”.

“But that’s certainly not the case in Cairns,” Mr Gschwind said.

Tourism QLD CEO Daniel Gschwind addressing media about Stage 2 restriction ease at Fort Rd, Oxley, Brisbane, 31st of May 2020. (News Corp/Attila Csaszar)

“When the federal Treasurer goes up to one of the epicentres of the COVID devastation in tourism there are great expectations that something positive would be announced but that was not the case and there was palpable disappointment.”

He said Mr Frydenberg “hinted” at financial support to keep domestic air travel infrastructure in place however “there was a greater need to support other businesses”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelled it “a slap in the face to the people of Far North Queensland” for Mr Frydenberg to visit Cairns and fail to outline details of a support package post-JobKeeper.

Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers, who was also in Cairns yesterday, said any support for the local economy would be welcome but there was “no substitute for JobKeeper”.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Sally Mlikota said she was disappointed nothing concrete had been offered.

“We were hoping that there was going to be a dramatic announcement today here in Cairns because this is a region that is really suffering at the moment,” she said.

“We are walking away today a little bit disheartened that there wasn’t an announcement today I wanted to take back to members – some of those are desperately relying on JobKeeper and they were desperately hoping for a different outcome.”