• Home
  • LATEST POSTS
  • PODCAST
  • Support ASE
Type and hit ENTER

Be Yourself. Be Happy.

Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.

Stay Positive. Always.

Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.

Image Not Found On Media Library
  • Home
  • LATEST POSTS
  • PODCAST
  • Support ASE
GET CONNECTED
Image Not Found On Media Library
  • HOME
    • About
    • Contributors
    • Archive
  • COMMENTARY
  • EVENT REPORTS
  • PODCAST
  • SUPPORT or SPONSOR

Morrison Government fails Business Events industry as JobKeeper ends

March 31, 2021
-
Posted by BECA

March 28 has now passed and so too has JobKeeper, the vital support mechanism that supported the Business Events Industry over the months that saw its revenue streams decimated by between 75-100%.

What has not passed is the uncertainty, severe limitations and restrictions that are compromising our industry’s survival and pathway to recovery. The business conditions that saw the JobKeeper scheme being introduced have not altered for our sector, and in some cases, they have worsened for 2021. The industry still faces critical challenges over the next 6-9 months whilst the market regains confidence to plan, deliver, book, and pay to attend events across the country.

Investment in ongoing targeted support is needed as an urgent priority to ensure we can sustain our sector and retain our event professionals into the future.

For the industry to return to its proven position as a major economic driver for the Australian economy, contributing $36 billion and 230,000 jobs in FY19, short term targeted support is critical to retaining core capacity and capability.

The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) ​conducted an initial survey of the vital supply chain of organisations and event professionals that create, promote, and deliver business events throughout Australia in June 2020 and again in February 2021. The purpose was to assess the business operating environment, the impact of government support mechanisms and to measure the level of business confidence and future business expectations.

The Government Support and Future Confidence Report’s key findings for 2021 clearly demonstrate the need for ongoing support:

  1. While 87% of business events businesses accessed the initial JobKeeper program to September 2020, reliance on the wage subsidy continued with 85% of businesses still accessing the program for the January to March 2021 period.
  2. With the cessation of JobKeeper without further government support, 47% of businesses will make more staff redundant, and 23% of businesses will close.
  3. 61% of business events businesses saw a 75-100% reduction in turnover for 2020 compared to 2019, while 44% forecast the same result for the 6-months to June 2021.
  4. The business events industry has also seen a shift in confidence with 50% now believing they will return to pre-crisis levels in ‘3-5 years’ – a significant 10% shift from the ‘1-2 year’ response in July 2020.

The Government has stated with the cessation of JobKeeper, other support that is proportionate, timely, scalable, and targeted to drive demand will be introduced for those industry sectors still facing economic challenges.

However, the poor design of the $50 million Business Events Grant Program has left the industry with virtually no targeted Government support post JobKeeper. The program established is misaligned and has not delivered support to the industry in the scale or time frame that is critically needed. After more than six months, only $8m of the $50m has been ear marked for distribution to grant recipients. In such a challenging environment to see only 16% of the funds used is an incredibly strong indictor of just how poor this program is. 

Dr Vanessa Findlay, Chair of BECA, commented:

“The bottom line is that without additional government support to get business event businesses through the next 6 months, 23% of businesses will be closing their doors and a further 32% are questioning if they have the means to survive. 47% of the businesses that think they will survive will be letting more staff go.

“The Business Events Grant Program is simply not sufficient nor effective enough to bring the support desperately needed. We will not only see more job losses and business failures in the short term but also long-term ramifications for the economic potential of the industry. We will lose market share to other countries that may never return.

“Indicators for a return to in-person business events in the next 6 months are looking good but we need to survive now to make it there. To do that we need additional targeted Government support. BECA will continue its engagement with Government towards achieving these critical outcomes.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

March 31, 2021
Email
No comments yet
BECA
The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) was formed in 1994 as a peak industry body. It provides an umbrella structure for the key industry associations operating in the Australian business events sector.

As the peak industry body for the business events sector we provide a single voice for the industry and liaise with the federal government and relevant agencies on matters common to all sectors of the industry. Our members represent the cross-section of the industry and we work together to build a strong voice for all sectors of the industry.

Comment on this article Cancel reply

Join the conversation

Receive notifications when we publish

Invalid email address
No spam. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
RECENT POSTS
  • The wrap – 20th May
    May 20, 2022

    No matter what the result is from tomorrow’s election there is much more …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • ‘Living with COVID’ – Event hospitality still in metamorphosis
    May 20, 2022

    Last October NSW Premier Perrottet’s reopening of the state of NSW was met …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • The technology that powers Vivid Sydney 2022
    May 19, 2022

    It’s fun to walk past the amazing sites along the 8km Vivid Sydney …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • Time for a reality check!
    May 18, 2022

    Gary Fitz-Roy is concerned that things are not as rosy as some are …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • The wrap – 13th May
    May 13, 2022

    The industry was shocked this week to learn of the sudden death of …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
Recent Comments
  • Pam Merrigan on How do festivals recover – before rebuilding?
  • Linda Gaunt on MC, mentor, tech head, wine buff and the socks – tributes flow for Toby Travanner
  • Lyn Millist (nee willis) on Get Local and Doltone House get the industry back together
  • DB Schenker - Fairs & Events on The logistics of moving events just got harder
  • Tim Collett on The logistics of moving events just got harder
POPULAR TAGS
COVID-19
sydney lockdown
savevicevents
BECA
PJSE
MCEC
MEA
melbourne lockdown
EEAA
MCB
AIME
ICC Sydney
arinex
AACB
Get Local
AIME2022
Australian Event Awards
Sydney Showground
JobKeeper
Business Events
BEIA
Navarra Venues
Business Events Grants Scheme
NEA
BESydney
Tokyo 2020ne
Expertise Events
VTIC
Regional Events
Sydney Olympics
savevictorianevents
Podcast
Victoria
AIME 2022
Exhibitions
Melbourne
event insurance
Talk2 Media & Events
Evolve2022
BCEC
Australian Open
NFF
Vivid Sydney
Theatre
Peter King
GET CONNECTED
  • HOME
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Contributors
Copyright Australasian Special Events 2000 - 2021
Morrison Government fails Business Events industry as JobKeeper ends | Australasian Special Events
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: