AFTA UPDATE

WELL, that’s a wrap for the federal parliament with both houses rising for the summer break last week and a return date set for Tue 02 Feb 2020 - 02/02/2020 – seems like a great date for the politicians to get back to work.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will get on with our everyday activities and continue to do what we need to do to get on with it. While there is a very reasonable expectation for holidays to be taken, I am sure most people have to think back to our days at school to get eight straight weeks of.

But I am sure they will continue to get their message out and do all the things politicians do when not required to be in Canberra.

It has been a very busy year for federal politics including an election so I would suggest that a break is needed for all involved, including those who sit on our side of the desk. 2020 will be a big year for legislation and for all accounts, unfortunately, likely to have an impact on the travel industry.

We will continue to monitor the recommendations of the Hayne Report which is definitely going to have an impact on travel insurance, how it may be sold and remuneration levels are also in the spotlight.

Next year’s budget could see an advanced plan to increase the passenger movement charge and that is likely to be another very big fight and process – we shall see.

Of course the difficult thing with politics is that it is very hard to actually plan for what might be coming next, so AFTA will remain ready to respond and negotiate as required with the government and opposition in the new year.

And while I am on politics, this Thu 12 Dec there is that little UK election that will sneak in a result and may have a rolling impact on the global travel and tourism industry depending on what the new parliament looks like, who is the Prime Minister and what plans may be implemented in relation to Brexit.

All I can say is that I can’t wait to see what happens next.