Spread the love
Post Views: 2

Agents right across the country are throwing their weight behind AFTA’s National Mobilisation Program to secure political support federally for a Sector Specific Support Package of $125 million.Agents are already reporting back on confirmed meetings with the AFTA CEO Darren Rudd and Directors happy to join meetings remotely.

The National Mobilisation Program (https://www.afta.com.au/afta/covid-19-updates/national-mobilisation-program) harnesses the passion, experiences and personal stories of AFTA’s members as part of a co-ordinated, strategic approach. The campaign dovetails with the organisation’s formal electorate visit program which AFTA CEO Darren Rudd initiated on his first day in the role as well as the direct lobbying which has been underway since the pandemic first hit.

AFTA’s Travel Agent Support Package calls for a range of initiatives to ensure travel agents’ survival including:

  • Scaled Back to Business grants forecast to be an average $40,000 based on total transaction value in FY19 to assist them to stay in business, cover some operational costs, continue the work of both returning refunds to customers and assisting travellers in 2021 and beyond;
  • Back in Business concessional loans of up to $100,000 per agency outlet to sustain business and service to travellers, delivered through commercial banks, backed up by a three-year Commonwealth guarantee. These loans will enable viable businesses to endure the COVID-19 related downturn and slow return to profitability;
  • The critical need to get Australians travelling again through the establishment of travel bubbles and through Government promoting the purchase of travel through Australian-owned travel businesses;
  • The reinstatement of previous loss carry-back provisions to allow current year losses to be carried back to FY19 and FY20;
  • Federal Government guarantee of corporate debt covenants until 30 June 2021;
  • All states and territories to extend the Mandatory Code of Conduct for commercial tenancies to 31 March 2021.

Quotes attributable to AFTA CEO Darren Rudd:
“There are so many voices from all sectors clamouring for attention in this pre-Budget climate, that we need to continue to be heavily strategic and focused in our political interactions.  In order to be heard above the noise, we need to make sure that what we’re asking for is co-ordinated, feasible and supported as much as possible by economic modelling. This is exactly what AFTA has been doing.”

“This is why AFTA’s National Mobilisation Campaign is kicking into gear now. It allows our members to use their networks and relationships within their communities to make their local Member of Parliament a champion. It means national activation from the grassroots up as well as from AFTA’s direct lobbying so that the critical need for support is heard, understood and we hope acted on.”

“While the timing of the Federal Budget dictates an immediate focus federally, we also continue to call on State and Territory Governments to step up and do the right thing by travel agents. This includes both ongoing direct lobbying and continued public calls for action including on the extension of rent relief.”

“The AFTA team is very grateful for the many calls and emails of support and offers to help amplify our impact politically and through the media. We will continue to evolve the campaign to meet the rapidly changing political landscape at a Federal, State and Territory level and we will continue to work with our members to navigate our path forward together.”