I’m still pushing for not only an extension to the JobKeeper program for struggling tourism operators but greater access to the Federal Government’s JobMaker program so tourist operators can hire new employees to further rebuild their industry.

I’ve been in regular contact with tourism businesses and their representative groups about the devastating effects of border closures, both international and domestic, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reality is that many tourism businesses are still struggling financially, and the latest closure to NSW just before Christmas was devastating for them.

I wrote to the Treasurer two weeks ago to ask for two things; a targeted extension of the JobKeeper program for businesses who are still experiencing a 30% downturn or more, and for tourism businesses who have workers on JobKeeper to also have access to JobMaker (the incentive to hire young jobseekers aged 16-35) so they can hire new employees when the industry starts to recover.

Currently a business cannot apply for JobMaker while they are on JobKeeper. The reality is that many workers in the Whitsundays have moved on.

Tourism operators not only need to hang on to the experienced workers they have, but they also want to train up the workers that will be needed if they are to fully recover

If the State Labor Government want to play ‘open, shut them’ on borders they should compensate the businesses who are being destroyed by their actions.

The latest state border closure led to millions and millions of dollars in losses for businesses in the Whitsundays.

That’s no projection, but reality as tourists were forced to cancel their holidays.

It’s a bit rich now for the Premier to present herself as some sort of ‘saviour of tourism’ when she’s been sticking a knife into it several times over.

If state governments think they’re acting for the greater good, quite frankly they’ve got to pay for the greater good too.