ASIA: Chinese and US senior trade officials held a virtual meeting to ramp up trade talks. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held a virtual meeting with US Treasury
The Australian economy has rebounded above pre-pandemic levels, after it recorded 1.8 per cent growth in the March quarter, following government stimulus spending and surging business confidence.
Victoria not only suffered from the strictest lockdown measures, it is the state where more than 800 people died, accounting for about 90 per cent of Australia’s total pandemic deaths.
Mark Normoyle talking to customers at Luna s Food and Wine Bar in St Kilda. Source: supplied.
As someone who has worked as a chef around Australia for almost 30 years, I have seen plenty of food venues come and go, both good and bad. But the impact of the pandemic is devastating and indiscriminate, leaving a trail of destruction across the entire hospitality industry.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 78% of Australian hospitality businesses reduced staff working hours during COVID.
For an industry that engages around 8% of Australia’s workforce, the flow-on effects this has had for our society and economy are enormous.