AFTA UPDATE

From Dean Long, CEO

This week I am back in Canberra with some great meetings to ensure those in the new positions of power are aware of and respect our industry.

While all things advocacy will continue, today marks the opening of the 47th Parliament.

It is only the fourth time since the Second World War and the fifth time in a hundred years, that Labor has formed government from opposition.

We have meetings with many newly appointed and returning members of Parliament including the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Shadow Trade and Tourism Kevin Hogan, and Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts.

We will be discussing all things passports, Smartraveller, footand-mouth disease response and providing an update on the state of our recovery.

We will also be taking the time to reconnect with the many public service agencies that support and regulate our sector.

Most will have heard over the last week that many in the opposition are calling for the border to be closed to Bali.

As I have mentioned previously, AFTA is working very closely with the Department of Agriculture to ensure ATAS travel businesses have access to fact sheets for your clients.

As ATAS travel businesses, we pride ourselves on getting people to travel safely, take out travel insurance and now we must also remind people to declare certain food, plant material/animal items.

So far, the Farmers Federation and other leading agricultural industry groups are supporting an open border.

Now we must make sure all travellers who book with us know what their responsibility is.

Finally and excitingly, NTIA nominations closed last Fri and the response has been overwhelming.

On average in the individual categories, we had 28 nominations and in the business categories, we had 22.

This week all nominees will be contacted by AFTA and final guidelines will be put into place for assessment.