• 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
Associations, Commentary, Industry Issues, MO Post now

BECA response to National Economic Recovery Plan

March 13, 2021
-
Posted by Trevor Connell

The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) ​acknowledges the announcement from the Federal Government yesterday in relation to the changes to the Business Events Grant Program as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan.

BECA’s feedback on Business Events Grant Program challenges have been considered and contributed to the announced extension and enhancements to the current program guidelines. The grant program was designed to assist those attending and participating in business events, but with a loss of business confidence due to border uncertainty, BECA remains committed to solutions that mitigate these risks preventing event owners from planning and booking future business events.

Dr Vanessa Findlay, BECA Chair

BECA will continue its work with Government on mechanisms that will get in-person business events back on schedule for associations and corporations, and stem the flow to virtual meetings where little economic benefit is realised.

Changes to the Program announced so far include:

– The minimum grant amount will be reduced to $5,000 (from $10,000) to allow smaller businesses the opportunity to apply.
– Extending the support for events scheduled through to 31 March 2022 to allow events that were postponed early 2021 the opportunity to benefit from the program.
– Increasing the number of delegates covered by the grant.
– Increasing the sponsorship cap.
– Expanding the priority sectors.

Applications for the grant will be extended to 30 June 2021 and an updated version of the program guidelines and eligibility criteria for the Schedule of Approved Business Events will be published by end of March.

These changes will assist in a greater distribution of funds to support participation in approved events over the next 12 months and contribute vital cash flow to the business events supply chain.

In the statements yesterday both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg commented the next step in the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan would target the businesses, workers and regions still doing it tough with proportionate, timely, scalable and targeted assistance.

BECA’s recent survey of business owners, freelancers and contractors clearly demonstrates just how tough it is for the business events industry and the need for more targeted support to ensure we do not lose our critical core capacity and capability. If we drop below this baseline our recovery will be seriously delayed and we risk losing market share to other countries. Key findings highlight that:

1. While 87% of business events businesses accessed the initial JobKeeper program to September 2020, reliance on the wage subsidy has only decreased slightly to 85% for the January to March 2021 period.

2. With JobKeeper scheduled to conclude on 28 March, 47% of businesses will make more staff redundant, and without further government support, 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.

Dr Vanessa Findlay, BECA Chair, stated: “The business events industry is clearly a sector that requires targeted assistance to enable its recovery. Given the challenges we are facing with operating restrictions, border closures, consumer confidence to travel to participate in events and the lead time required to plan and deliver events, our research shows the industry is still 9-12 months away from any significant return to business operations.”

“Targeted support is critical to sustain valuable businesses and event professionals in the interim period as is the timing and implementation of this support. We consider the announcement yesterday as a starting point of what is required by Government to support the sector and look forward to continuing our consultation with the Government to develop targeted solutions to achieve these outcomes as a priority.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
BECA
BEGP
March 13, 2021
Email
No comments yet
Trevor Connell
Trevor came to the events industry in the early eighties from a background in theatre and photography. He has experience as an Event Manager, Technical Director and Lighting Designer and has worked on events as diverse as corporate functions and the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Sydney Olympics Closing Night Harbour Spectacular.

Trevor was a founding member of the Australian chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES) and served on the chapter executive for six years.

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss.
Associations, Commentary, Event Reports, Festivals, MO Post now

Why the event industry is stuffed and what to do about it

April 1, 2021
-
Posted by Trevor Connell

It’s not just COVID.  The industry is tearing itself apart as well. In scenes reminiscent of the …

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Read More
April 1, 2021
Posted by Trevor Connell
Commentary, Industry Issues, Venues

What is the Future for Theme Parks?

May 24, 2020
-
Posted by Joe Goldblatt

When I was a young man, my first real job was working in a theme park entitled …

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Read More
May 24, 2020
Posted by Joe Goldblatt
Commentary, Industry Issues

The security of our events is at risk

July 14, 2020
-
Posted by Trevor Connell

Security firms are in the spotlight again after being blamed for the latest COVID outbreak in Victoria. …

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Read More
July 14, 2020
Posted by Trevor Connell
← PREVIOUS POST
Remembering Black Friday – 13th March 2020
NEXT POST →
Forgotten again! The events sector misses out on subsidies again

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
  • Australasian Special Events in 2021
    February 23, 2021

    I started ASE in early 2000. It was a year of optimism for …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • New funding initiative to offset organisers costs for business events hosted in Melbourne
    April 9, 2021

    Melbourne Convention Bureau has announced today a new funding initiative to encourage interstate …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • Book review: The Art of Gathering
    April 9, 2021

    Professor Joe Goldblatt  reviews The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Professor Goldblatt …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • Events to educate and support mental health initiatives
    April 6, 2021

    There is no question one of the biggest unspoken impacts of the pandemic …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
  • Renewed call for Government COVID event cancellation insurance
    April 6, 2021

    The cancellation of Bluesfest is devastating for so many in our industry. Sadly, …

    Share this:

    • Twitter
    • Facebook

    Like this:

    Like Loading...
Recent Comments
  • Hannah Sweetman on Why the event industry is stuffed and what to do about it
  • Matt Farthing on Urgent need for an Event Industry Taskforce
  • Trevor Connell on #FairGo for the events industry – New industry representative body launched
  • Belinda Moore on #FairGo for the events industry – New industry representative body launched
  • Darryl Lovegrove on Peter Jones reflects on the year we would rather forget
POPULAR TAGS
COVID-19
BECA
PJSE
savevicevents
MEA
JobKeeper
Victoria
Melbourne
Save Vic Events
Save NSW Events
AACB
Gold Coast 2018
Theatre
Live Performance Australia
QVB
AHANSW
Edinburgh
Scotland
Australian Open
Commonwealth Games
MCA
Music
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
MEA Awards
goldblatt
Priya Parker
SXSW
Bluesfest
NEA
VTIC
The Events Alliance
FairGo
Sydney Olympics
Tourism Restart Taskforce
ISES
BEGP
BEG
COVID
savevictorianevents
Peter King
MCEC
Qantas
ICC Sydney
Action Events
Julia Rutherford Silver
GET CONNECTED
  • HOME
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Contributors
Copyright Australasian Special Events 2000 - 2021
BECA response to National Economic Recovery Plan | Australasian Special Events
%d bloggers like this: