JobKeeper extension a lifeline for struggling NT businesses
THE extension of JobKeeper will be the lifeline thousands of NT businesses need to survive until the next peak dry season, says Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland.
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THE extension of JobKeeper will be the lifeline thousands of NT businesses need to survive until the next peak dry season, says Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland.
He said the federal government’s decision to extend the wage subsidy past September would give some much-needed certainty to many of the 4777 businesses in the NT signed up to the scheme.
JobKeeper will now continue until March next year, but payments will fall from $1500 to $1200 a fortnight after September.
“Businesses here were very concerned facing that September cliff, this extension will help keep people in business until the next peak season,” Mr Ireland said.
“Clearly not everyone will be a winner out of that but I’m sure that clarity will be welcomed by business.”
Under the revised scheme, people working fewer than 20 hours a week will receive $750.
In September, the JobSeeker payment will also fall from $1100 to $800 a fortnight.
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Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said he had some concerns about the changes.
“No scheme is perfect and concerns remain about the ineligibility of foreign workers in many of the struggling restaurants around town,” he said.
“The scheme also doesn’t pick up where workers on JobKeeper for a range of reasons sometimes beyond business control have left the business, they have out of necessity been replaced and these workers are not supported.
“This is the case even if that venue is 50 per cent down or more.”
Mr Bruce said it was “understandable” that businesses would need to be tested for eligibility for support beyond September.
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“That will mean some hospitality venues fall out of the scheme – but that says they are no longer impaired by 30 per cent or more which is heartening to hear,” he said.
“Other venues, especially reliant on those missing two million tourists, will continue to be eligible for support for an additional six months.”
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the JobKeeper extension showed Australia was in this for the long haul.
“Coronavirus is going nowhere for a long time yet, which means I’ll keep doing whatever it takes to save jobs and I know the PM will too,” he said.
JOBKEEPER EXTENSION TOP NEWS FOR DARWIN HOTEL
HOTEL Darwin can keep an extra 10 staff who qualify for JobKeeper on its books until the end of March 2021, thanks to the extension of the government assistance program.
Hotel Darwin owner Brett Lubicz said the extension timing would help Territorians but the backpacker culture could be hit hard.
“Coming into a wet season with little to no travellers coming into Darwin, it’s definitely going to help out,” he said.
“The other big thing in the NT is obviously the foreigners and backpackers who’ll miss out on it. We have two here who are employed now … but they were out of work when we closed in March.”
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Mr Lubicz said the business would continue to qualify for payments but welcomed the assistance.
“Unfortunately we probably will be one of those businesses that it will be good for but we’re happy to see it extended,” he said.
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