Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman is encouraging business owners in the manufacturing and tourism sectors to attend hearings of a new Taskforce in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, looking at post-COVID recovery.

Labor’s Pandemic Recovery Jobs and Industry Taskforce will conduct two days of hearing in Windsor and Katoomba later this month, with Deputy Chair Milton Dick taking evidence from local manufacturing and tourism operators on what they believe will help their industries move forward.

“COVID has shown us just how vital it is to be making things locally, and the important role our local manufacturing industry plays,” Ms Templeman said.

“And the last 18 months has also shown us how vital a healthy tourism sector is. Both are key planks in our local economies of the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.

“The pandemic was part of the triple whammy that has hit tourism operators, alongside bushfires and floods.

“Local manufacturers and tourism operators know the issues, and they know what governments need to be doing both now and into the future to help their sectors grow.

“Labor’s Pandemic Recovery Jobs and Industry Taskforce is gathering evidence from around the country, and our region has a lot of experience to share.

“I am encouraging business operators in both sectors to come along and present their views, which will help shape policy into the future.”

The Taskforce hearing on manufacturing will take place at Windsor’s Deerubbin Centre on April 20, with the tourism hearing at Katoomba RSL on April 21.

“I’d like to invite business owners in the manufacturing and tourism sectors to be part of this discussion about what the needs and opport