Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I put forward this motion on behalf of travel agents across the country, but most particularly in my electorate of Newcastle, because this industry has indeed been decimated by COVID-19. I have heard from dozens of local travel agents who have been pleading for targeted support, given the very disproportionate impact that COVID-19 has had on their businesses. There simply is no economic snapback for this sector. There are now more than 600,000 Australian jobs tied up in the travel and tourism industry, and they need continued support. The package of subsidised flights announced last week is way too narrow, and only the aviation sector will benefit. There needs to be carefully targeted support to help travel agents who are struggling. It's not just Labor saying this. I note that the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, the peak body representing the nation's travel industry, has highlighted the multiple flaws in the government's $128 million support package for embattled travel agents. That package has provoked a lot of confusion and uncertainty. The more recent announcement on cheap airfares—make no mistake—whilst attractive to small numbers of consumers, is not the panacea that travel agents have been asking for.

On Friday of last week, one of my constituents, Janelle, an independent travel agent, contacted me, extremely concerned about the impact that the end of JobKeeper payments is going to have on her business and, indeed, her family. Janelle said, 'I have a consistent and loyal customer base and spent 2020 cancelling bookings, cashing refunds, applying for credits, basically advocating for my clients and offering my clients the support and service they expected from me.' Fast forward to 2021, Janelle says: 'I'm again chasing refunds and credits and seeking extensions due to continued border closures. Receiving JobKeeper meant there was some income for the hours of work involved with each and every booking. JobKeeper has kept my family going through a very difficult year. The mortgage and bills could be paid.' Janelle is seriously worried right now. She's thinking, 'What happens on 28 March when the government's intention to cease the JobKeeper scheme kicks in despite all the widespread calls from economists and businesses alike to extend the scheme?' The economy—and this sector, in particular—is still suffering. She doesn't have any of that comfort right now.

Another local independent travel agent in my electorate reached out to me just a few weeks ago about her own dire circumstances. She noted that, while the JobKeeper payment hasn't covered her wage or costs over the last nine months, it has enabled her business to survive. But, as we know, the government is intending to stop the JobKeeper scheme in just a few weeks, and this will leave Janelle and my other independent travel agent with no alternative but to close their businesses. That's the worry that both those women have. The poorly planned and poorly delivered COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program has gone no way to assist either of my constituents. Janelle's business didn't qualify at all, and my other constituent's business only qualified for $1,500 and that nowhere near covers the hundreds of unpaid hours she's spent assisting her clients with refund recoveries and helping those seeking to return home. It also does nothing to ensure her business is positioned to still have its doors open when travel recommences.

The health department secretary, Professor Brendan Murphy, warned that international travel may not be an option for more than a year. The government needs to extend targeted support now. (Time expired)

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 18:19 to 18 : 30

See this speech in context