Release: Tourism Support Package riddled with inequity

Release: Tourism Support Package riddled with inequity 

The Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today questioned the need for and application of the government’s Tourism Support Package. 

“The Australian government is once again arbitrarily selecting winners and losers,” said ATA Policy Director Emilie Dye. “The Tourism Support Package helps specific airlines with specific routes, carefully selected locations, and the people who can afford to fly. This kind of inequity and favouritism has no place in a support package.” 

“Too often certain Australians get first-class treatment while others are left behind on the tarmac.”

“Instead of spending tax dollars on narrow subsidies, policymakers should focus on catching Australia up to the rest of the world and vaccinating our population. People will fly when they feel safe to do so.”

“Right now, many Australians are reluctant to travel to other states because they fear one case of COVID-19 will see them spending two weeks trapped in a hotel room with a bill they can’t afford.”

“If the Australian government wants to help the airline industry, they need to open up international borders. The tourists will come. Pumping up favoured industries and companies with targeted subsidies will only stall our recovery.”