ATIC has positively welcomed the retention of JobKeeper as an investment in a stronger future for one of Australia’s economic pillars and employers – tourism.
ATIC Executive Director Simon Westaway said:
“The Federal Government’s retention of JobKeeper was an absolute priority for our heavily impacted tourism industry, an employer of 1 million Australians, powered by thousands of small businesses. We recognise the significance of the continuing commitment to this valued Program.
“JobKeeper to date has done the job intended enabling sustainable businesses including most tourism enterprises to keep on key workers until the economy and visitor demand recovers.
“JobKeeper 2.0’s 6-month extension provides certainty to keep tourism business doors open because most still await visitor recovery with a firmly closed international border and ongoing domestic border restrictions in place across States and Territories in response to COVID-19.
“Australia’s border constraints remain critical in both tourism’s and our economy’s ability to effectively recover. Today’s announcement cannot mask this obvious ongoing economic impediment which drove our call-out for JobKeeper’s targeted extension.
“However, ATIC’s positive 5-point plan for JobKeeper’s future has been largely captured and we and our business members will work constructively with Government around its next-phase.
“ATIC will engage with Government and Opposition parties to assess how regular seasonal employees are treated in JobKeeper’s future two-payment tiered calculations, particularly recognising northern Australia, and remaining responsive to the clear ongoing uncertainty over our international border’s ability to reopen.”
.jpg){kind=tracking}