Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Suspicions that Federal Government’s $1.2 billion tourism stimulus package targets marginal constituencies

Suspicions that Federal Government’s $1.2 billion tourism stimulus package targets marginal constituencies
March 11, 2021

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has today confirmed details of the $1.2 billion package aimed at getting more Australians to undertake domestic travel, but has been immediately criticised for focusing the airline subsidies on travel to areas that are largely marginal Federal electorates.

Announced this morning, the assistance package includes subsidies for domestic air travel and money for Qantas and Virgin to stay ready for when borders reopen.

In practice it will see the Federal Government pay 50% of the cost of 800,000 domestic flights to 13 destinations between 1st April and 31st July while international borders remain closed.

The destinations are the Gold Coast; Cairns; the Whitsundays region; the Sunshine Coast; the Lasseter region of the Northern Territory which includes Uluru and Alice Springs; Launceston, Devonport and Burnie in Tasmania; Broome in Western Australia; Avalon, Victoria; Merimbula in southern NSW and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

The package, to be introduced when the JobKeeper subsidy ends later this month will also include loans of up to $5 million to tourism businesses with two-year repayment holidays.

However, of the 13 locations that will be eligible for discounted flights, eight were immediately identified as being in marginal Federal electorates.

Of the remaining five

While Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has predictably criticised the package for focusing on marginal Federal seats rather than the regions most in need of tourism support, Tourism Council WA (TCWA) Chief Executive, Evan Hall says the package is a "devastating blow" to the state's tourism industry.

With Broome the only location named as a discounted tourist destination in Western Australia, Hall stated "this is a devastating blow for Western Australian tourism.

"Not only are we going to see an end of support for those tourism businesses on JobKeeper that need support to keep going, but we are going to see subsidised flights into the east coast that are going to draw visitors away from Western Australia and into east coast destinations.

"Overwhelmingly, these discounted flights are going to regional, marginal seats.

"They have treated the economic impact on the tourism industry as a political problem.

"We think it is an absolutely appalling way to treat the tourism industry that has been devastated by international and interstate border closures.

"We need those interstate visitors for our businesses to recover.

"But a lot of people in Sydney or Melbourne now, instead of choosing Perth and Margaret River or Kununurra, are going to choose Surfers Paradise, or Cairns, or Launceston."

However, in reference to regional NSW, Prime Minister Morrison said those areas had not been included in the package because tourism in the state has largely recovered.

Another anomaly is that Queenslanders will not be supported to travel within their own state.

While people from outside Queensland will be able to get the cheap flights to the Whitsundays, Cairns, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, people flying from Brisbane airport have to travel out of state.

Commenting that it will take some time for benefits to trickle through to tourism operators, Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind stated "it remains to be seen how that will come through to them, how the benefits will flow through to them they're in urgent need of this and we're a little bit concerned that it may take a bit too long for them.

"Our main concern always has been to support the business who need to keep their jobs in place for their staff and that's not entirely clear how it will work and how quickly it will work."

For further information on the COVID 19 tourism support plan visit www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Tourism/Tourism-and-business 

For further information on the Small and Medium Enterprise Recovery Loan Scheme visit www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/sme-guarantee-scheme

Images: Broome, the only location named as a discounted tourist destination in Western Australia (top) and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (below).

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.

Read more from this author

Related Articles

11th March 2021 - Federal Government’s tourism package includes six-month extension of Zoos and Aquarium program

11th March 2021 - ATIC says tourism package will fail to stem major tourism job and business losses

10th March 2021 - Federal Government set to subsidise flights in tourism support package to replace JobKeeper

30th November 2020 - New tour experience showcases Kangaroo Island Wilderness trail recovery

8th March 2021 - ATEC highlights the impact of declining inbound tourism on regional communities

27th February 2021 - Ecotourism Australia continues to call for funding support from Federal Government

26th February 2021 - $40 million funding support announced for Indigenous Tourism

23rd February 2021 - AFTA spotlights the need for JobKeeper extension for the tourism industry

18th February 2021 - Australia’s $45 billion export tourism Industry at risk without JobKeeper replacement

17th February 2021 - VTIC fear loss of jobs in Victorian tourism and events without further support

11th February 2021 - Tourism Australia launches new campaign to boost business events across Australia

2nd February 2021 - Queensland Acting Premier calls for JobKeeper extension to support tourism industry

1st February 2021 - Without JobKeeper Australian tourism businesses face ‘annihilation’

21st January 2021 - Australian tourism industry haemorrhaged almost $7 billion over the summer holidays

14th January 2021 - TCWA says one in five Western Australian tourism businesses at risk if JobKeeper ends

13th January 2021 - South Australian tourism sector seeks extension of JobKeeper beyond March 2021

10th November 2020 - ATEC highlights that tourism exporters need JobKeeper support until international borders reopen

9th March 2021 - Local communities share $10 million funding for bushfire wildlife and habitat recovery

23rd February 2021 - Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome names new koala joey

7th January 2021 - Cairns’ Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park to close as COVID-19 hits tourism business

9th October 2020 - QTIC shares tourism industry’s election priorities for next Queensland Government

12th September 2020 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison denies targeting marginal constituencies when deciding sports grant expansion

7th July 2020 - QTIC’s COVIDSafe events framework supports getting the ‘show to go on’

11th May 2020 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison denies misleading Parliament over involvement in sports rorts

11th May 2020 - Tourism Council WA welcomes tourism recovery guidelines

23rd January 2020 - ‘Sports rorts’ scandal: Revelation that upmarket golf, rowing and tennis clubs received major grants

23rd January 2020 - ‘Sports rorts’ review to be assessed by Prime Minister’s department

15th January 2020 - Audit Office report confirms that Federal Government targeted marginal seats with potentially illegal sports grants


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Fun Wheels Pty Ltd

Fun Wheels Pty Ltd are the premium dealer in Australasia for the Dutch company BERG’s commercial and domestic products. Our flagship product is their revolutionary pedal go-kart – the…

read more

Attractions / Tourism / Venues

 
 

Gladstone MRM

Gladstone Health & Leisure (Gladstone MRM Pty Ltd Australia) is a leading supplier of leisure management and fitness software and is endorsed by leading health and fitness professionals and…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Venues

 
 

Otium Planning Group

Otium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Centaman Entrance Control

Turnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…

read more

Access / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Ungerboeck Software

As of February 2023, Ungerboeck Software has rebranded as Momentus Technologies.

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 
 

IEDM

iEDM integrate Design, Engineering and Delivery Management services to convert existing spaces into exciting new entertainment venues. Our team consists of highly qualified professionals with diverse…

read more

Consultants / Design

 
 

HRMWEB

At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…

read more

Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business