Budget will be overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic

Tuesday's Federal Budget will be the second to be overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic. But this year it won't be the health threat of the virus that could have an impact, but the nation's vaccination rollout. Logistical delays, supply issues and concerns over vaccine hesitancy all pose some potential fiscal problems for the Treasurer. And while the overall economic recovery is strong, there are some sectors desperately relying on the vaccine for their survival.

Manly Dive Centre is one business that’s been badly affected by the pandemic. Source: SBS

A local institution for almost sixty years,  the Manly Dive Centre in Sydney has navigated uncharted waters for the past 14 months.

The business was dealt yet another blow. An outbreak saw the Northern Beaches locked down for three weeks, ahead of the crucial Christmas period. 

Now they are hoping to chart a course to calmer waters,  with a successful vaccine rollout. 

"The vaccination is the key long term, to get, to get our whole industry going again. So the sooner that can happen, really that can't happen soon enough. The more that's delayed, the more negative press, the more shortages of supply, the inability to vaccinate large numbers of people during this time is going to be critical."

With the rollout plagued by delays, the threat of outbreaks and snap lockdowns continue to loom over Australian businesses.

Economist Richard Holden warns that uncertainty could take the shine off the nation's strong economic recovery.

 

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