Australia also intends to accelerate the adoption of 5G by conducting trials and beginning to develop a national network for telecoms manufacturers like Motorola to utilize. Even blockchain technology is mentioned in the plan, with the government intending to fund two pilot programs with A$6.9 million to help Australian businesses reduce compliance costs.
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Arts & Media Job Losses while Online Casino Players Rise
The arts and media industry was an early casualty of COVID, with TV and film productions forced to stop, while live performances of theatres and concerts were also ceased during the various lockdowns. Although theatres and concerts are still impacted, there’s hope for TV and film after Universal Studios Group announced it would film three TV series in Australia. This news presents a lifeline for an industry that lost 20,000 jobs in April.
Although some areas of the entertainment industry have suffered, Business Insider Australia has suggested that online casino users have begun playing more since COVID emerged. And it appears that popular Aussies casino, Joe Fortune is one of the brands to benefit from the increased traffic, with the site providing access to slots, tables, and other online casino games.
Hospitality Industry Loses the Most Jobs
According to Guardian Australia, the hospitality industry has been impacted to an even greater extent, having witnessed more than 270,000 job losses. One of the most brutal incidents occurred in March when the Australian Hotels Association cut 200,000 jobs.
With lockdowns arising frequently across the country, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and hotels have all been forced to endure a downturn in customers. By having to follow strict distancing requirements, businesses in the hospitality industry can only welcome a fraction of the customers who would have visited the premises before coronavirus. Industry spokesmen believe that new jobs could be created if restrictions were to be eased based on a decline in the transmission of local cases in specific areas.
Signs of Life for Retailers
The hospitality industry has witnessed over 120,000 jobs being “stood down”, which occurs when a role is temporarily suspended. In retail, more than 43,000 jobs have been stood down and over 1,800 were lost. With Western Australia less impacted than some of the more populated states in the country, there are smaller towns where retailers are now thriving due to the influx of visitors who are eager to engage in retail therapy, which isn’t currently an option where they live.
