Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister and I recently received a letter from Peter, Jo and Faylene Maguire, directors and partners of Helloworld Travel Emerald, wanting to express their sincere appreciation and thanks to the coalition government for the economic support that their business has received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Maguire family operate a small travel business in Emerald, established over 43 years ago. The Maguires have been through a lot and have survived it all: economic downturns; the airline collapses—Ansett, Compass, Flight West; 9/11 in New York; droughts and floods. Jo Maguire writes:

During these 43 years, this year is the first time any offer of assistance has been received to our business. This time, COVID-19, we would have been out of the door without the federal government's assistance and support. We would have closed our doors and walked away, and we would have left behind many valued clients who had booked thousands of dollars of holidays through us in the lurch. We now are here for the long haul due to the government's economic support and JobKeeper program. Thank you and congratulations from us for a great effort.

Thank you.