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National framework must not be delayed
07 Sep 2020 | Media Release
Australia’s political leaders can reinvigorate the economy and save jobs by urgently following through on a national framework for COVID-19 agreed by a majority in National Cabinet today.
“Most Australians are employed in the private sector. Moving away from blanket border closures to more nimble, targeted measures defined in a national framework will help save more of these jobs,” ACCI CEO James Pearson said.
“We are concerned, though, that the criteria for hotspots released today, while a good start, are far too strict. The model used in Denmark, for example, gets the balance right.
“State and territory economies operating in isolation are not strong enough to deliver national economic recovery by themselves. They need to be connected properly to save jobs and get our national economy growing again. That means being able to move people, services and goods safely across our country.
“We are encouraged to hear most states and territories have seen this today.
“Political leaders must now move quickly on today’s commitment to ease restrictions on travel between states and territories – time is running out.
“One has to look no further than Australia’s iconic tourism and hospitality industries to see the damage wrought by disproportionate restrictions on the movement and gathering of people. By December, many more businesses, jobs and livelihoods will be lost unless restrictions are eased.
“We also hope that as more of Australia becomes identified safe zones, we can once again reignite the conversation on travel bubbles, across the Tasman and in the Pacific and Asia more broadly.”