AFTA MEMBER UPDATE
                                               

Thank you for the incredible response to our 'Travelsectorkeeper' survey! The deadline for completion is next Friday 26 February however we are providing Tourism Minister the Hon Dan Tehan with interim results on Monday morning for inclusion in his Cabinet submission so we need as many responses in as possible please by lunch time tomorrow.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JKSurveyFeb21.

AFTA is working the corridors of Canberra hard at a political and departmental level and reinforcing our case for ongoing tailored support strategically via mainstream media. We continue to collaborate with CATO and CLIA to make sure all the necessary information is getting to those that need it from Ministers and Ministerial Advisers to Backbenchers and Departmental Officers. Given the all-important pre-Budget timeframe we are currently in, it’s more important than ever that we are all singing from the same song sheet to avoid muddying the messaging and weakening our impact!

AFTA is also proud to continue to support the many individual members who are proactively pushing the need for ongoing support themselves. If you are doing this, please contact us so that we can share our messaging and priorities.

We are aware for example that there has been a call to email Austrade to highlight the implementation issues with the Grants Program. The timing of this is counterproductive. Government bodies like Austrade have a regulatory framework within which they must respond to all incoming correspondence. Right now is a critical time with Austrade reviewing requests for reassessments and processing incoming applications. Incoming general emails right now divert the existing resources from doing the work we need them to do in supporting you. So, at the moment, unless you are emailing Austrade with a reassessment request or making an application, please hold off and trust that Austrade and the various political stakeholders are well aware of the issues.

As always, we’re here to support you. If you’re not already a part of our private members-only Facebook group, please search “Australian Federation of Travel Agents” and answer the questions to join.

This is an amazing sector full of wonderfully committed and passionate people and together we are a force to be reckoned with. Securing the $128m Grants Support Program was a significant win and just the first step. We need 'Travelsectorkeeper' now and we certainly have many Government, Opposition and Independent Members of Parliament amplifying our calls. We are working with Treasury and KPMG to finalise our Pre-Budget submission and will share the overview with you shortly. We are also concurrently lobbying States and Territories for additional support.

We welcome your ongoing support and any feedback you might have.