Tourism Accommodation Australia has outlined its intentions to lobby various state and territory governments around the country for reward schemes being rolled out to include access to hotel quarantine workforces.
In addition to financial bonuses and salary increases, many states and territories have rightly launched reward programs for frontline healthcare workers to be able to enjoy discounts and exclusive promotions for many months of dedicated service to communities all over Australia as thanks for their efforts.
These programs have garnered the support of many businesses and sectors nationwide, which have introduced exclusive discounts and free offers in fields including cosmetics and beauty, car parking and services, free hotel stays, food and beverage, ride share trips and more, for those able to present ID cards or badges verifying their eligibility.
Discussing the issue at the Association’s national board meeting this week, TAA National CEO Michael Johnson said hotel quarantine workers also deserved a special ‘thank you’ from governments around Australia.
“Various voucher programs are being released nationwide now and health workers are rightly among the first to be rewarded for their service to the community during COVID,” Johnson said.
“We will [also] be pushing for the dedication and hard work of hotel quarantine staff to be recognised at the state level too as a special thank you for their front-line work during the darkest days of the pandemic,” Johnson said.
“[This was] work which allowed Australians to return home.”
The meeting also included advanced discussions on the ongoing critical skills shortage and the Association’s efforts continuing to lobby government to bring skilled workers back to Australia, particularly to help in regional areas.