As at 31 March, several accommodation businesses are assisting with curtailing the spread of Coronavirus in WA.

• Community Service Minister Simone McGurk has released a media statement indicating about 20 people experiencing homelessness are being moved in to Perth's Pan Pacific hotel as part of a "Hotels with Heart" pilot, to reduce the health risks for people experiencing homelessness during this difficult period. Due to their circumstances, people experiencing homelessness are often unable to take social distancing measures and self-isolate. Media statement 
• Accommodation company Quest has offered all its 11,000 rooms across its entire 140 hotel portfolio in Australia for residents returning from overseas who are required to quarantine for 14 days.
  Quest also offered to convert one of its properties into a makeshift "health facility" for people suffering with the coronavirus. More information here and here.
• On Monday 30 March, West Australian cruise ship travellers were taken to Rottnest Island for a fortnight in quarantine, while approximately 600 Australians from other states and territories are being quarantined at the Duxton Hotel for two weeks before flying home.

Fair Work Commission has announced a temporary variation to the Hospitality Industry General Award that will operate from 24 March to 30 June 2020. The changes, which are aimed at helping employers retain staff, primarily relate to cutting minimum hour requirements and suspending rules on job classifications.
For more information, please see Tourism Accommodation Australia media release and Fair Work Commission Summary of Decision.  

R&CA has created a coronavirus information hub to keep business owners updated during the coronavirus outbreak. The hub will be updated regularly with the latest information and resources, including:

• Links to relevant federal and state government health alerts
• Updated news relating to the coronavirus
• Fact Sheets and Templates
• Workplace Relations FAQs for business
• Coronavirus information and support for business government assistance

Access the Coronavirus information hub here.

Demands on telecommunications networks in Australia and internationally continue to increase substantially due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as more people work from home and education moves online. Telecommunications peak body Communications Alliance has released a series of tips for families, workers and businesses working from home in response to the crisis. The media release outlines challenges faced by the industry owing to a shift in consumer behaviour; available support; and advice on how to minimise disruption at the household level.

Tips include:

• When you are scheduling audio/video group calls, choose a start time that is 10, 20, 40 or 50 minutes past the hour, to ease dial-in congestion.
• Consider recommending audio-only options, to reduce the data volume of a group call/meeting.
• Avoid downloading/uploading large files during peak times, which now also include daytime hours. It can make a big difference if you plan ahead to download large files between 9pm and 9am.

Read the full release here.

National peak body for the visual arts and craft sector the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) have developed a set of resources for artists, arts workers and arts organisations to support advocacy efforts around government support for the sector in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Resources include a template letter to the relevant national ministers, and links to information on finding your local MP, and writing to MPs.

Access the resources here.

Australia's lead arts funding agency, Australia Council for the Arts, has developed a series of webinars in response to the current Covid19 crisis as a means to support urgent industry need for upskilling. The Council advised:
​"Creative Connections is an online webinar series for the cultural and arts sectors and will offer practical, accessible and useful content delivered by industry experts on key topics and emerging themes. As a direct response to the current challenges faced by the arts sector, we acknowledge the isolation felt by artists and practitioners at this time, and the impact that temporary closure of many arts organisations is having on our collective wellbeing. The series is focused around the theme of adaptation, and sessions will explore digital adaptation, leadership adaptation and arts practice adaptation. Sessions will be facilitated by experts in specific topic areas, with over thirty sessions available. Creative Connections will be delivered live via our online platform and recordings will be published after each session."

Explore the offer here

The Department of Training and Workforce Development has issued a fact sheet outlining options for employers, apprentices or trainees that may have been affected by COVID-19.
Please click here to access the fact sheet.

The McGowan Government announced on the 16th March 2020 that household fees and charges will be frozen and Western Australian small and medium businesses will receive additional relief, as part of a $607 million stimulus package.
These measures, which help support the State's economy to respond to COVID-19, include:

• $114 million in measures to support Western Australian small and medium businesses
• one-off grant of $17,500 to payroll tax paying businesses with a payroll between $1 million and $4 million.

Read full media statement here.

The Western Australian peak body for regional artists, arts workers and arts organisations is collating information relating to the current Covid-19 pandemic. Regional Arts WA state:
Currently we are experiencing a change in our social and economic landscape that is directly impacting our arts sector. As an organisation we are committed to providing you with support during this time. We have compiled a number of resources to support you and your fellow peers in the arts, and to help protect at-risk members of the community. This list will be updated regularly to ensure up to date information. Content is being added to this page as we receive new information- check back regularly for updated advice and resources.
​
Access the Regional Arts WA website and resources here.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expects that COVID-19 will result in a 20% to 30% fall in international tourist arrivals in 2020, compared with 2019.*

Taking into account past market trends, this would mean that between five and seven years’ worth of growth will be lost to COVID-19. Putting this into context, UNWTO notes that in 2009, on the back of the global economic crisis, international tourist arrivals declined by 4%, while the SARS outbreak led to a decline of just 0.4% in 2003.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors. However, tourism is also united in helping to address this immense health emergency – our first and utmost priority – while working together to mitigate the impact of the crisis, particularly on employment, and to support the wider recovery efforts through providing jobs and driving economic welfare worldwide.”
For more information, please visit https://www.unwto.org/tourism-covid-19-coronavirus 
*UNWTO notes this estimate is based on the latest developments as the global community faces an unprecedented social and economic challenge and should be interpreted with caution in view of the uncertain nature of the current crisis.