Pilots lobby for travel to climb again
AS THE Cairns economy sinks into recession, Qantas pilots have demanded the State Government reopen closed borders that have threatened the jobs of “thousands of workers” in the aviation sector.
New data from Conus Business Consultancy Services shows the Cairns economy has been in recession since the end of last year. “We are now expecting Queensland Gross State Product (which will not be confirmed for another three months) to show a significant decline in the first quarter of 1.4 per cent with a further 6.8 per cent fall in the second quarter,” economic analyst Pete Faulkner said.
“In the broader Cairns region, the new data, and our modelling, suggests that Gross Regional Product fell in the final quarter of 2019 (and) in the first quarter of 2020; meaning that the Cairns region was already in recession before the full impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown took full effect.”
The sobering assessment comes as Qantas pilots lobby to reopen the state’s borders and stimulate tourism in the Far North.
“The reliance of north Queensland on domestic and international tourists means the decision by the Queensland Government to maintain its border closures is particularly damaging, and the economic consequences extend to the regional carriers and their workers that service these regions,” Australian and International Pilots Association president Mark Sedgwick said.
“This impact is illustrated by new Treasury data which indicates Cairns … is the worst-hit region in the state with more workers on JobKeeper wage subsidies than anywhere else in Queensland.”
AIPA is the professional association representing Qantas pilots. “A lifting of the restriction on non-essential travel into Queensland will stimulate tourism, trade and business activity and provide a boost to the aviation sector,” Mr Sedgwick said.
“The longer the borders remain closed to interstate travellers, the harder it will be for Queensland’s aviation industry to recover, including the thousands of jobs it provides.
“Comments by the Queensland Palaszczuk Government suggesting the state’s border closures were not responsible for the hardships facing many Queensland businesses, neglects the thousands of workers in the aviation industry.”
Mr Sedgwick has written to Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg urging him to support workers adversely affected by international border closures.
The international travel ban has been extended to mid-September.
“While AIPA recognises that the Australian economy cannot be sustained indefinitely by government subsidies, in maintaining the important public safety benefit behind the indefinite closure of Australia’s international borders, it urges the government extend the JobKeeper package with a tightening of eligibility for specific industries, including aviation,” Mr Sedgwick wrote.