Luxon supports hospitality minister for hard-hit sector
National Party leader Christopher Luxon would support the appointment of a minister of hospitality to oversee the industry, which he says has been ‘‘structurally stuffed’’ by Covid-19.
Speaking to hospitality business owners and advocates during a webinar on Monday, Luxon said the industry, along with tourism, had borne the brunt of border restrictions.
Although the situation had changed significantly over the past 18 months, Luxon said the Government was ‘‘stuck in a 2020 mindset’’ which continued to cripple businesses.
‘‘We now have access to RATS [rapid antigen tests] and vaccinations – it’s not the same environment it was in 2020 and the Government needs to develop a clear risk management plan for where we’re at now,’’ he said.
‘‘The traffic light framework doesn’t give anyone clarity – there is no indication of how we move from red to orange to green.
‘‘People have done everything right and they have no idea what’s next.’’
If those in Government cared about small businesses, they wouldn’t have ‘‘smashed’’ them with a minimum wage hike, a five-day sick leave extension, and the introduction of the Matariki public holiday, all in the midst of a pandemic, Luxon said.
Asked if he would support the creation of a hospitality portfolio, along the lines of the racing portfolio held by Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, Luxon said it was a great idea.
Several hospitality business owners also spoke during the webinar, all of them critical of the Government’s latest offer of financial support.
Last week it was announced that businesses able to show they had been affected by the Omicron outbreak would be eligible for a $4000 support payment plus $400 per full-time worker.
Mandy Lusk, co-owner of Auckland’s Vivace restaurant, said she couldn’t apply due to being unable to show a 40 per cent drop in revenue over the specified period.
‘‘We were already struggling. It’s pretty hard to be 40 per cent down on dreadful,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, two more Auckland hospitality businesses have gone into liquidation in the past month.