WELCOME BACK TASSIE!
Over worth of sales $167m in the last 2 years
TASMANIAN LABOR LEADER Rebecca White MP
Supporting our hospitality sector through prolonged uncertainty A s the long road out of Tasmania’s COVID-19 crisis begins, it is tempting to assume that the worst is over. While that may be the case for some, many Tasmanians and local businesses continue to suffer pain, hardship and uncertainty, with serious concerns in particular about what the future will bring for the tourism and hospitality sector and for our young people. It is clear that, having already borne the brunt of the pandemic restrictions, the tourism and hospitality sector will continue to be hard hit and will need ongoing support to help them through this prolonged uncertainty. Labor recognises the work of the THA throughout this crisis and the important role they have played in supporting venues right across the state. The THA has played a vital role in providing accurate and timely information to venues as changes are introduced by the government and they have helped operators to make sense of the restrictions. The THA has also played a constructive role in providing feedback to government and the Labor opposition about things that are going well and where improvements can be made. There is no doubt times are still tough for many and a new survey by EMRS shows strong community support for additional government assistance for the sector. With nearly 60 per cent of those surveyed reluctant to return to cafés and restaurants due to fears of contracting COVID-19, and more than a third saying they simply can’t afford it, there is still a long way to go before consumer spending returns to pre-pandemic levels.
As well as highlighting the need for JobKeeper to be extended beyond September, these results show the State Government must work closely with the sector to ensure businesses are supported and can keep people in jobs. Of course, job creation is the number one priority coming out of this crisis – for Tasmanians and for Labor. Our COVID-19 Recovery Package is focused on getting Tasmanians back into jobs and building a better and fairer state for everyone. But we know that can’t happen without an overarching plan to support local employment and give businesses the skilled workforce they are crying out for. The survey shows widespread support for more assistance for young people to keep their jobs or train for new jobs, reinforcing our policy to provide free TAFE in areas of skills demand. With the State Government signing up to the new national approach to skills and training, Labor is calling for this investment to go into TAFE so that courses are meaningful, nationally recognised and designed to meet the needs of Tasmanian businesses. By adopting Labor’s Free TAFE policy, the government can help drive qualifications and employment in a post- pandemic society – providing free courses in key industries facing skills shortages, upskilling workers who’ve lost work as a result of the pandemic and providing pathways for school leavers. With vision and targeted action, we can build a better and fairer Tasmania. Support and meaningful training will allow us to buy local, build local and employ local – and create a state that takes all Tasmanians along on recovery.
0408 134 025
0418 128 735 0419 670 501 0409 186 261 0409 317 607
Rob Dixon
John Blacklow
David Webster 0419 516 629 Rodney Rawlings 0419 323 626 Nicholas Bond 0414 395 007
Ian Reed
THA HOSPITALITY—REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2020 | 40
Scott Newton Charles Black
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