AFTA doubles ask to $250m

THE Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) isn’t commenting on speculation that it is now asking for $250 million in support for the industry, after the figure was raised in Federal Parliament yesterday by former Opposition leader Bill Shorten.

Speaking in support of the sector following representations from agents within his electorate in Maribyrnong, Vic, Shorten said he had “met with AFTA and they have asked for sector-specific funding in the form of grants - a 12-month bridge back to business of $250 million, plus concessional loans. That’s AFTA’s ask,” he said.

AFTA’s original Budget submission (TD 02 Sep) asked for $125 million in targeted support, with no details available at this stage of any revised proposal.

Shorten highlighted stories from individual agents in his electorate, noting that many were using their personal JobKeeper payments to pay expenses, and that just 14% of the industry - mostly large agencies - will be able to access any benefit from the Loss Carry Back provisions of the Budget.

“I think we need to be creative in this space to keep the sector alive,” Shorten said, adding that he was quite moved when he met with the local travel agents.

“In the travel agency sector, payroll is down, hours are down, unemployment is up, international sales are dead, job ads in the industry are down and the mortgages that people working in the travel agency industry have to pay still have to be paid,” Shorten said.

“We all like our holidays, we all like our travel...I think it will come as a shock if, when the borders reopen internationally, we don’t have anyone to help organise our trips and our memories,” he said.

Shorten urged Australia not to abandon the travel agency industry “because certainly if we booked with them they wouldn’t do that to us”.