Coronavirus and the leisure industry update: The arts, aquatics, aviation, fitness, golf and swim schools - Friday 20th March

The R&A and Golf Australia have announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to remove any hygiene implications related to complying with the Rules of Golf. These temporary measures are effective immediately and allow the Rules of Golf, and Model Local Rules, to be modified as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Air New Zealand will receive a $900 million lifeline from the New Zealand Government as airlines across the world battle to stay in business.

Aquatic industry peak bodies in each of Australia’s states are convening regular teleconferences to discuss issues facing the aquatic facilities sector.

However, unlike Fitness Australia, Live Performance Australia and tourism sector peak bodies, the aquatic sector bodies are neither lobbying government or making announcements representing their sector - the sole communication for the sector so far coming from Royal Life Saving Society - Australia, whose key focus is on reducing drowning and promoting safe aquatic participation.

The Music Industry Taskforce has launched Sound Of Silence (SOS), an initiative representing Australia's diverse music industry "to bring immediate relief for an industry at the existential brink".

Providing daily updates for its members and stakeholders, Fitness Australia has today highlighted that Australia’s 1.4 million sole traders are facing difficult trading circumstances through the Coronavirus crisis.

With Fitness Australia representing more than 10,000 fitness industry sole traders, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish is calling on the Federal Government to provide more financial support and assistance to this business sector, saying not enough is being done to ensure they can survive the current environment.

Click here to view Fitness Australia's statement.

Vodafone Warriors Chief Executive Cameron George has today announced that captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and his team have reaffirmed their commitment to stay in Australia and continue in the 2020 NRL Premiership in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

With their venues closed, some arts organisations are using digital channels to perform, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra livestreaming their performances via YouTube. Click here to access the channel. 

With the Australian aviation industry to receive a $715 million relief package, as the Federal Government waives a range of fees to help support the sector, Qantas has nonetheless stood down 20,000 workers without pay.

Carlile Swimming has advised that it is keeping its swim schools open, continuing, as it says, “to offer our essential, life-saving and life-enhancing swim programs".

The leading swim school business advises that it has “implemented measures to keep numbers down in pool areas (and) increased safety and hygiene measures.”

Auckland Council has announced that its libraries, pools and recreational centres, as well as the Maritime Museum and Art Gallery, will close for two weeks from today in line with New Zealand Government recommendations.

Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt has said the arts and creative industries will need $1 billion in funding if they are to survive the struggles placed upon them by the Coronavirus.

Bandt’s call follows Federal Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, having staged a roundtable for cultural and creative sector bodies to discuss plans for their survival as more live entertainment is cancelled and the sector is threatened by precautions to halt the spread of Corona virus.

Nillumbik Shire Council has advised that its five aquatic, recreation and sport centres, will close from their usual closing times this evening until Monday 13th April.

The facilities affected are: Eltham Leisure Centre; Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre; Community Bank Stadium, Diamond Creek; Diamond Creek Community Centre and Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool. At this stage, Yarrambat Park Golf Course remains open.