Australians are losing their jobs in the tourism industry while the Morrison Government does nothing.
The combined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and last summer’s devastating bushfires have resulted in tourism jobs falling by 18.2 per cent, compared to 6.8 per cent across the whole economy, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures release yesterday.
That’s 136,500 Australians out of work in the tourism sector since December last year – around one in seven jobs lost in 2020.
That tourism has been hit harder than most sectors is no surprise given the necessary restrictions on travel in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.
But the Morrison Government has failed to provide a plan to protect jobs or any targeted support for this vital industry and things will only get worse as JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments are wound back from today.
Tourism accounted for just 4.5 per cent of Australian jobs in June 2020, the lowest proportion on record, but suffered 13.8 per cent of total job losses in the economy.
Jobs in businesses that rely on tourism, like cafes and restaurants, accommodation and sport and recreation, were hardest hit after already being disadvantaged because many casual workers were not eligible for JobKeeper.
More women work in tourism than men and they have lost their jobs at a higher rate – 88,100 compared to 48,300.
The Morrison Government has been quick to say the States should do more to support tourism, while ignoring the impact our closed international borders are having on the sector and doing nowhere near enough themselves.
It is way past time for Simon Birmingham and Scott Morrison to tell the over one million Australians employed in the tourism sector what their plan is to support the industry and save their jobs.