BUDGET WIN FOR HOSPITALITY

THIS year’s federal budget is a nakedly political document designed to improve the Coalition’s chances of winning a fourth straight election.

While dressed up as the “women’s budget” with plenty of talk about getting back on track after COVID-19, documents reveal there is a $9 billion war chest of funding that will be ready for big-ticket announcements ahead of the poll, due between October 2021 and May 2022.

While there was little in the way of direct new tourism funding in Tuesday’s budget, one element that has industry figures frothing is a cap on working hours for international students in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Previously capped at 40 hours a fortnight, this decision will be a gamechanger for the city’s struggling hospitality employers and will help fill some of the many jobs left vacant by the closed borders.