A re-elected Labor Government will deliver a multi-million dollar support package to help Tasmania’s devastated tourism and hospitality industry find a post-COVID path forward, as part of its fully costed jobs plan.
Labor Leader, and Shadow Tourism Minister, Rebecca White said the tourism and hospitality industry was critical to Tasmania’s economy and it was vital government does everything possible to help the sector back on its feet after the devastation of the COVID pandemic.
“There are important steps government should be taking to help boost the tourism and hospitality industry such as extending the Make Yourself At Home voucher program to food and dining,” Ms White said.
“When the voucher scheme ended in November a significant portion of the total funding allocation of $12.5 million had not been redeemed.
“Labor would redirect the unallocated funding to food and dining instead of limiting it to accommodation and tourism experiences.”
Ms White said there are significant unknowns over the coming 12 months and Labor would put in place measures to support business through that uncertainty.
“Labor’s jobs plan sets aside $5 million for contingency support that could be allocated as grants, fee waivers, bill relief and other assistance. This will be very important given the ongoing uncertainty and the end of the JobKeeper program in March.
“Nearly 3,500 jobs have been lost in the tourism and hospitality sector, including more than 700 in the past month and the industry continues to go backwards because the government just isn’t doing enough.
“Labor’s plan will protect jobs in tourism, hospitality and the arts to get through to next summer.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
