More elite cycling set for SA, masks off at airports, NZ pre-departure test scrapped & more...

A milestone today for the Santos Tour Down Under, with the women’s race elevated to a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s WorldTour event – the top level of road cycling competition.

This means South Australia will host our country’s only UCI Women’s WorldTour stage race and the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under will now kick off both the UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour calendars.

It is sensational news for the event and our state – the women’s race going from strength-to-strength since its introduction in 2016. A media call this morning marked the occasion, with the Minister for Tourism the Honourable Zoe Bettison, Events South Australia executive director Hitaf Rasheed and our newly crowned race directors.

Race director Stuart O’Grady OAM will lead the women’s event as part of its elevation to the UCI WorldTour, joined by two assistant race directors and South Australian cycling legends, Annette Edmondson and Carlee Taylor.

In welcome news for travellers, masks will no longer be required at many airports across the country from midnight tonight, following advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

It has been confirmed that South Australia will follow the AHPPC advice and remove the mandate for all airports across the state, including Adelaide Airport and regional terminals. Masks are still required on flights, and on public transport including taxis and rideshare.

Across the ditch, pre-departure COVID-19 test requirements for travellers entering New Zealand will be dropped from midnight on Monday, June 20.

This move will make travel easier for our Kiwi friends when they visit and is well timed, with Air New Zealand to recommence direct flights from Auckland to Adelaide next month and SATC's marketing activity to ramp up in market in line with this.

The Fair Work Commission this week announced a rise in the national minimum wage and minimum award rates. The minimum wage will be lifted $40 a week from July 1, which amounts to an increase of 5.2 per cent, and workers on award rates will go up 4.6 per cent, with a $40 minimum increase applying.

It is important to note the Fair Work Commission ruled the increase will be delayed until October 1 for tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors due to exceptional circumstances including their slower recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. For more information, please refer to fairwork.gov.au.

Rodney Harrex
Chief Executive

Read the full Industry Update - 17 June 2022