While welcoming the agreed pause in Middle East hostilities, R&CA remains cautious, pointing out that fuel costs feed directly into food prices, freight and deliveries for their sector.
Business events venues, from convention centres to hotels, alongside event caterers and airline caterers are likely impacted in the same way.
R&CA national president John Hart said in a statement issued this week that his organisation was being briefed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and had received two briefings from Austrade focused on supply continuity.
“On the international front, the announcement of a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are welcome developments that should ease immediate pressure on global supply and pricing,” Hart said.
“We remain cautious about how durable these conditions will prove to be, but the early signs are positive.”
Over recent weeks Hart has publicly called for a cut in the fuel excise in Australia.
“I am pleased the government has acted. This is a practical, immediate measure that will flow through to input costs across our supply chain and provide some breathing room for operators already managing tight margins,” he said.
“The government has also announced support through Export Finance Australia to help secure additional fuel supply from Singapore, concessional loans for affected small businesses and ATO flexibility on tax obligations for businesses impacted by the disruption.
“R&CA is working through the details of each of these measures, and we will provide members with practical guidance on how to access them as soon as it is available,” Hart said.
He asked members to contact R&CA if their business was experiencing specific supply or cost pressures, so the team could factor these experiences into its ongoing representations.
Restaurant & Catering Australia is the national industry body representing over 57,000 cafés, restaurants and caterers nationwide.
