ATEC wades into T-QUAL grant fiasco
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has entered the fray over the Government’s refusal to hand over grants awarded to almost 90 companies.
ATEC chairman John King said he was “very concerned” at the uncertainty being created by a Coalition review of all discretionary grants approved by the previous Labor administration.
ATEC has met with officials from the trade and investment ministry but received little in the way of clarity.
Travel Today revealed on Monday that 89 operators and organsations were awarded T-QUAL grants totaling $8.5 million back in July to help develop and expand their businesses.
King said he was concerned at the tone of a letter sent by trade and investment minister Andrew Robb “which failed to provide any certainty on the delivery of promised grants”.
In an update to its members, ATEC said withholding payments is “creating a worrying situation for those who have moved in anticipation of the funding”.
“With many operators waiting on a response from Government and, understandably, expecting this funding to be forthcoming, ATEC is very concerned about the length of time it is taking to clarify the situation,” King said.
“We urge the Government to move quickly to resolve this impasse and provide advice to industry operators on the future of their projects. The Government must understand these businesses simply can’t afford this indecisiveness.”
In a letter to the National Tourism Alliance dated October 29, Robb reiterated that all discretionary grants are under review.
“Part of this process will involve approval by the Ministry for Finance, Austrade and the Department of Finance in dealing with this as a matter of priority,” he wrote. “I hope to provide further information to the tourism industry in the coming weeks.”
In addition to the T-QUAL grants, the review also covers the Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund Grants Program (TIRF).
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