Small businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors that were hit hard by the state’s snap five-day lockdown have been handed a $143 million reprieve.

Darren Rudd has almost run out of superlatives to describe the federal government’s $128 million boost to the sector.

It’s not quite the $250 million ask that AFTA was after, but it’s certainly better than nothing.

The calls for ScoMo to get off his backside and announce the lifeline agents so badly need have grown even louder and slightly terser.

Darren Rudd offered plenty of scoops to the Travel DAZE audience during his session yesterday. Here’s one of them – and it’s big!

While Western Australian agents are breathing a sigh of relief, those in other states and territories have no doubt turned green with envy over this new funding.