The Morrison Government’s long overdue tourism announcement is too little too late for Far North Queensland workers and businesses.

While the $10 million set aside for Tropical North Queensland is welcome, it won’t bring back the local tourism jobs lost or businesses closed during the Morrison Government’s months of inaction.

The Australian Tourism Export Council has also raised concerns about the lack of specific funding to support businesses that deliver international visitors to Australia – visitors who are particularly important to the industry in Far North Queensland.

More than 136,000 jobs have been lost nationwide during the many months it has taken for Scott Morrison to act.

The fallout from last summer’s bushfires and COVID-19 have resulted in tourism jobs falling 18.2 per cent, compared to 6.8 per cent across the whole economy, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

Cairns-based Labor Senator Nita Green said Far North Queensland has been let down in the seven months since she called on the Morrison Government to deliver industry support to the sector.

“This support is being announced at a time when cuts to JobKeeper will rip $24.3 million from the Far North Queensland economy each fortnight,” Senator Green said.

“Scott Morrison is robbing Peter to pay Paul by ripping millions of dollars out of the economy and replacing it with only $10 million over two years.”
 
 
MEDIA CONTACT: JACOB WILSON 0457 961 596