Pluck a duck: Tourism icons may very well be sunk

Some of Queensland’s best-known tourism companies say they’ll be marginalized if the federal government brushes off support when JobKeeper ends next month.

Recent research has shown that up to a quarter of Queensland’s 40,000 tourism businesses could go broke due to the devastating effects of the coronavirus and the impending end of the March 28th JobKeeper supplement, which helped keep many businesses alive.

On the Gold Coast, Aquaduck Safaris has been a tourism institution for decades, but General Manager Sarah Colgate said the future is in danger.

“It will lead to job losses, especially in the winter months,” she said.

“The tourism industry will lose professional, long-term passionate employees.

“Our employees have to get a second or third job in order to survive.”

Aquaduck boss Sarah Colgate fears the end of the JobKeeper program. Image: Nigel Hallett

Julie Telford, owner of Red Cat Adventures, said the award-winning Whitsunday business would be years ago if employees were lost at the end of the grant.

“It feels like we’re standing on the edge of a cliff and don’t know if we’re being pushed over it or being pulled back from the edge,” she said.

Red Cat Adventures is one of the Whitsundays’ best known tourism providers.

In Cairns, arguably the region hardest hit by the tourism downturn, CaPTA Group CEO Peter Woodward said 96 percent of its 187 employees received JobKeeper payments.

“We fear that no replacement of government funds, whether through an expansion of JobKeeper or a specific tourism support package, will result in a significant reduction in our skilled workforce,” he said.

Riverlife chief executive John Sharpe said there is still a place for government support to ensure businesses get support during the next phase of the pandemic.

Riverlife Chef John Sharpe on the Brisbane River

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said time is running out quickly to extend JobKeeper or introduce another job support package.

“Tourism companies still need JobKeepers to put groceries on the table – it’s too early to cut that program,” she said.

“Time is ticking fast. I call again on the Prime Minister to reconsider the abolition of this scheme.

“In some regions, our tourism companies depend on international visitors for up to 30 percent of their income.

“Ending JobKeeper could benefit so many companies.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

She also invited Prime Minister Scott Morrison to meet those tourism companies in Cairns, the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast who fear for their futures.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said as long as international borders are closed and foreign tourists locked out, the prime minister is obliged to maintain some form of JobKeeper support for the tourism industry.

The federal government reiterated recent comments yesterday from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who said Canberra did “most of the heavy lifting” and welcomed any financial support from the Queensland government once JobKeeper is ready.

Originally published as Pick a duck: tourism icons could be sunk