AFTA seeks budget support
THE Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is seeking “hundreds of millions of dollars” in government funding for the travel industry, with AFTA CEO Darren Rudd yesterday detailing plans for a budget submission which will be lodged next week.
Rudd made the revelations during an interview with Travel Daily Publisher Bruce Piper, as part of an online session hosted by The Travel Industry Hub viewed by hundreds of people from across the industry.
As well as economy-wide measures like JobKeeper, the AFTA CEO is seeking several specific measures to help the Federation’s members, including a one-off payment for agencies to help with a range of costs, in recognition of the unique position the industry has been placed in by the government’s border closure initiatives.
AFTA is urging an extension of the current code of conduct for landlords to support rental relief, as well as a “bucket of funds” for the organisation itself so it can assist agents with business advice - either on investing to remain in business after the pandemic, or whether it is possible to make a “graceful exit” from the industry.
AFTA is also having input into discussions about a third wave of the JobKeeper program, which is likely to be more specifically targeted to the hardest hit parts of the economy.
Rudd said he was aiming to raise recognition for the plight of travel agents who were the first to be affected by the restrictions, and will be the last to emerge.
Once the submission is finalised and lodged, AFTA is planning a major mobilisation of the industry to get the message across.
“That’s when the political pressure starts,” he said, with travel agents, suppliers and anyone else in the sector to be provided with resources to allow them to engage with their local Federal MP in Sep.
“We’ll be sending out a script and documents, advising how to constructively set up a meeting with local members, a profile on the metrics of the travel agent sector and the work they do, and what’s in our budget submission.”
Rudd said as well as being directed to AFTA members, the same details will be available on the website for non-members, suppliers, and “everyone - the more the merrier, the more impact it will have,” he said.
There will also be documents provided for the MPs to pass along to the Treasurer or shadow cabinet, and as well as pushing for specific funding, the engagement package will also push for border openings.
“We are working to make sure Government appreciates the impact that these ongoing closures have on our members, the travel sector, suppliers and the community in general.”
He noted that there was no certainty of receiving funding, with the whole economy suffering from COVID-19.
“But this strategy will give us the best chance we can have of getting the dollars we need to get through this,” Rudd added. More on page 4 of today’s TD. Watch the full interview HERE.