Ann Wason Moore: Holidays are here, payment benefits are on the way out

After a tough year, it’s tempting to let off steam these school holidays. But there are reasons to be cautious, writes Ann Wason Moore.

These school holidays are just what the doctor ordered.

The weather is warm, the sun is shining, the Covid outlook is bright … but there’s just one problem with feeling on top of the world – you might fall off.

And that’s a risk right now for parents both financially and physically.

This Friday is the day that the rug of government financial support will be pulled from under us and could well be the start of the real economic pain of the pandemic.

From September 25, the JobSeeker maximum fortnightly rate for a single household will drop from $1110 to $810, while JobKeeper will be reduced to at most $600 a week from September 28.

Lines of people wait at Southport Centrelink. Picture: Adam Head

This will mean hundreds of thousands of businesses are forced to stand on their own two feet for the first time in six months and approximately 1.3 million workers will lose access to support from the JobKeeper program.

Even worse, research by Digital Finance Analytics shows one in four small and medium businesses surveyed do not expect to be trading in six months’ time.

So, in other words, if you have a job – hold on tight.

Yet at the same time, with school holidays upon us, it feels like the best time ever to let off some steam.

JOBKEEPER: GOLD COAST SUBURBS MOST DEPENDANT ON WAGE SUBSIDY

It’s been a hell of a year and with Queensland (relatively) open for business, why not grab the kids and let loose at some of our amazing attractions?

Unfortunately, one Gold Coast dad has a very good reason to warn against being a weekend warrior after he decided to take his kids to the Big Wedgie inflatable water slide on the Broadwater.

Steven Strudwick did everything right … he read the instructions, he followed the rules, he supervised his children – and then he decided to take a ride as well.

Alas, despite following the safety guidance, the young father ended up with a fractured leg and more than a month off work.

Even worse, he discovered that just two weeks after his accident, another man was also injured.

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Both men have taken legal action against the interstate operator of the Big Wedgie, with Steven’s case now set for a pre-trial settlement conference – two years after the accident.

But Steven is one of the lucky ones, his employer was able to transfer him to light duties and he kept his job. Something that wouldn’t necessarily happen in today’s murky market.

Steven’s lawyer Claire Gibbs, from Maurice Blackburn, says it’s a warning to other parents to take care of not just their children but themselves these holidays.

“For Steven, he did everything right but the rules weren’t enough to protect him, there wasn’t enough water in the landing pool for an adult rider,” she says.

“But he was lucky he still had his job. My concern is for other parents injuring themselves, this is not the best time to jump on a skateboard with the kids because every job is precious right now.

“It’s horrible if your child hurts him or herself, but you’re talking about missing some days from school – not losing your family breadwinner.

“We can’t wrap our children or ourselves in cotton wool, but we do definitely need to make sure we follow safety guidelines and that we have enough insurance to cover us if the worst happens.

“For an accident like Steven had, it can take years for a public liability claim to settle … how do you manage in the meantime?”

It’s also a reminder for our tourism operators to triple-check their safety standards.

As damaging as an accident can be for a working adult, it can bankrupt a company.

It’s a lesson clearly learned by Dreamworld, who took six months to reopen after the Covid shutdown – perhaps taking that extra time to ensure safety, given the continuing repercussions from the 2016 fatal accident at the Thunder River Rapids ride.

People lining up at Dreamworld after it reopened last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

MASSIVE CHALLENGE FACING DREAMWORLD

The Gold Coast has always prided itself on hosting the best and safest tourist attractions, we can’t let our standards slip for the sake of short-term savings.

“This story is something for local businesses to keep in mind, especially right now when they have to be tight with expenses. So many tourism operators are just putting on staff again,” says Claire.

“But there just can’t be any question over which weighs more heavily in the argument of profit versus safety. Shortcuts now might get your business through the summer, but long-term if could destroy you.

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“We all want to protect the Gold Coast’s great reputation and we all need to support our economy, but we need everyone doing their part to make it safe … parents, businesses, employees and employers.”

It’s exactly the advice any doctor would give – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And if we keep safety first in mind, our city is certain to earn a clean bill of health.