NT resorts, casinos cut deeply by coronavirus crisis as 800 workers laid off
MORE than 800 casino and resort workers around the Northern Territory have been laid off in the past week due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
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MORE than 800 casino and resort workers around the Northern Territory have been laid off in the past week due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The NT has two casinos – in Darwin and Alice Springs – which both closed last week in compliance with the Federal Government’s new restrictions.
Mindil Beach Casino Resort general manager Mark Bennett said he was “not in a position at this time” to comment on how many staff they had stood down since closing on March 23.
The NT News understands the Darwin casino employs about 600 workers.
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Lasseters Hotel Casino has laid off more than 300 employees due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, meaning it has lost its title of being the largest private employer in Alice Springs.
The Crown Plaza hotel is the only part of the business still operating as an essential service, as well as the Tali Restaurant, which will service in-house guests only.
Lasseters chief executive officer Craig Jervis said it was “devastating” for so many people to be laid off.
“Currently there are 27 staff here at Lasseters, whereas three weeks ago there was 330 staff on the books,” he said. Staff have been left out of work with other parts of the business temporarily closing, including the Alice Springs Convention Centre, the Lasseters Health Club, the casino and the Juicy Rump restaurant.
Mr Jervis said it was too early to think about how and when the corporation could bounce back as the business remained in limbo.
“There’s the immediate crisis that we’re dealing with of remaining viable to reopen, and that is the process right now,” he said.
“At the moment the business is operating the hotel and we’re reviewing that as we speak.”
Ayers Rock Resort has also sacked 518 people in the past week due to travel restrictions and the closure of Uluru.
Voyages CEO Grant Hunt said it was a deeply regrettable but unavoidable situation.
“We must all play our part in slowing down the spread of COVID-19 and in protecting our communities,” he said.
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“Unfortunately, this means temporarily closing the majority of operations at the resort and letting go of a significant number of our highly valued staff members.”
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