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Pandemic Wage Subsidy Ends in Australia as Brisbane Goes into New COVID
Lockdown

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - Australia's multi-billion-dollar wage subsidy credited with
   saving hundreds of thousands of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic
   hasended. A cluster of infections hasforced the Queensland city of
   Brisbane into a snap three-day lockdown.

   The U.S.$53 billionJobKeeperprogram was the biggest economic package in
   Australian history.It guaranteed workers apaycheckeven when businesses
   were forced to close during lockdowns.

   In Canberra, the government has said with the recovery underway, it is
   time for the economy to support itself.

   Senior officials have saidJobKeeperwould be replacedbytargeted stimulus
   programs, the first stage of which will be an expansion of the scheme
   to pay part of the wages of apprentices.

   But critics believe the move is premature, and the end of the wage
   subsidy scheme will put many jobs in jeopardy.
   A snap three-day coronavirus disease lockdown takes effect in Brisbane,
   March 29, 2021.

   Leanne Harwood is the managing director for Japan, Australasia &
   Pacific atIHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)Hotels & Resorts.

   She had hopedJobKeeperwould be expanded to help the tourism industry.

   "Without it we would have had to make a lot more people
   redundant.Sadly, we would have lost a lot more people and weprobably
   wouldhave hadtoclosealot more doors of our hotels and right now we have
   been able to keep most of them open, which has been quite frankly a
   godsend having thatJobKeeperto be able to do that.You know, we have
   been able to keep people employed, which has made such a difference in
   so many people's lives, and I am incredibly worried about what is going
   to happen when thatJobKeepergoes away,"Harwood said.

   The pandemic sent Australia into recession for the first time since the
   1990s.But there isevidencethe economy is rebounding strongly.

   Recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have shown
   Australia's jobless rate dropped from 6.6% in December 2020 to 6.4% in
   January.

   Australia has mostlycontainedthe virus, but a small, but growing
   cluster of infections in Brisbane has forced the authorities to order a
   three-day lockdown starting Monday, and stay-at-home orders will
   apply.The Queensland state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was
   "very concerned."

   However, in neighboring New South Wales more COVID-19 restrictions are
   being eased on Monday.Singing and dancing is now permitted, allowing
   nightclubs to reopen.Sports stadiums and theaters can alsooperatewith
   100 per cent capacity, and masks are no longer mandatory on public
   transport.

   A nationwide mass vaccination program is also underway.

   Australia has recorded just over 29,200 coronavirus cases since the
   pandemic began.909 people have died, according to the Health
   Department.

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