Cruise industry says 25,000 jobs are at stake if the federal government fails to set a return date

The fed-up and highly frustrated cruise industry has demanded a date be set to resume sailing now that a trans-Tasman bubble has been established, warning 25,000 jobs are at risk.

The Australian cruise industry has been shut down for more than 12 months following the outbreak of coronavirus and the Ruby Princess debacle, which has been linked to more than 660 cases and 28 deaths.

However, since Tuesday’s announcement that a trans-Tasman bubble would begin on April 19, allowing quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia, the cruise industry wants to be included.

Industry leaders have been lobbying for intrastate cruises but now believe trans-Tasman sailings should be put on the agenda and a date nominated for their return, which would reignite 25,000 jobs.

“Many of these workers have been reliant on JobKeeper during the suspension and won’t necessarily benefit from the federal government’s latest initiatives targeting tourism,” Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasian spokesman Joel Katz said.

Mr Katz has been leading the negotiations with the state and federal governments on behalf of the world’s cruise lines…

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From PerthNow - April 7, 2021