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INDUSTRY LEADERS: LEANNE HARWOOD, ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION
INDUSTRY LEADERS: Leanne Harwood
President, Accommodation Association
THIS YEAR IS going to be a great year for Australia’s accommodation sector. Sure, 2022 threw the box at us with ongoing COVID breakouts, workforce challenges and the continuing fracturing of supply chains, yet, we made it through. We are proud to have been our members’ advocates as we have worked together to meet the challenges, develop the solutions and ensure the contributions of our sector and people are appropriately recognised.
We were delighted to finish 2022 with the decision from the Fair Work Commission allowing the secret postal ballot of members on the amalgamation of our association with Tourism Accommodation Australia to take place earlier than expected. The Australian Electoral Commission oversees the process with the ballot closing 13 February 2023. Following the ballot and depending on the outcome, the Fair Work Commission will then make its final orders regarding the proposed amalgamation.
Tourism Accommodation Australia and the Accommodation Association are working towards proposed merger this year
The amalgamation working group has invested 19 months of time and effort in developing a robust and detailed case to present to the Commission and it was rewarding to see that deliver results as we move closer towards this historic merger.
At the same time, we have continued to deliver for members. Our wins included:
• the Federal Budget announcement of AU$48 million over four years from 2022-23 to support recruitment and marketing in the tourism and travel sectors, and for infrastructure upgrades for caravan parks, including a AU$10 million commitment to support the Accommodation Association’s The Hub platform to connect people to vacancies, foster skills development and showcase tourism as a career
• putting the proposed ‘bed tax’ aka ‘visitor levy’ to bed
Leanne Harwood, President, Accommodation Association
• an investment of over $5.6 million from the Victorian Government to support paid training for up to 400 priority cohort jobseekers as part of a new Accommodation Association Victorian Jobs program
• representation at the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit and ongoing engagement with key Federal Ministers and decision makers
• ongoing involvement in the Federal Government’s Thrive 2030 strategy for recovery of Australia’s visitor economy recovery
• advocacy around the re-opening of Australia’s international border and resumption of cruising after the two-year ban
• ongoing advocacy on the need for urgent action on regional housing to free up sufficient long-term rental accommodation to support regional employees
• the NSW Government’s Parents NSW and Stay NSW voucher programs
The Accommodation Association helped secure $48 million over four years to support recruitment and marketing in the tourism and travel sectors
• the Victorian Government’s Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme extension which effectively provided an additional two months of rent relief and protection for small and medium businesses.
Thank you to all our members, to my fellow Council Members, and to the Association team for your support and guidance in helping the Accommodation Association deliver for you in 2022. This year is a milestone year for our association and our sector as we look to finalise the plans shaped over so many years to form a single, united voice for Australia’s accommodation sector. Together we are stronger.
