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Will Indonesia’s ‘Work From Bali’ save the island? | TICKER VIEWS

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Indonesia is launching the ‘Work From Bali’ program to revive the Island’s battered economy – but will it go far enough?

The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has announced their upcoming ‘Work From Bali’ scheme, which will allow public servants to live and work in Nusa Dua. The program will send 25 per cent of Indonesian public servants from seven different Indonesian ministries to live and work from hotels in Nusa Dua. This comes in an effort to boost tourism on the island.

“We hope that with the arrival of government and state-owned company employees, the gears of Bali’s economy will start moving.”

Hermin Esti Setyowati, ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy
Nusa Dua is an island resort in Bali, indonesia.

As Bali suffers, does ‘Work From Bali’ go far enough?

The COVID pandemic hasn’t been easy for any of us, but it’s been tougher on Bali than most. International travel bans brought tourism in Bali to a jarring halt.

Official figures released by the Indonesian government suggest over 80% of Balinese locals have been impacted as a result of the island’s COVID tourism slump.

The tourism industry is crucial to Bali’s economy, with many locals relying on international guests for income. In 2019, 6.3 million international tourists visited the island. In 2020, that number dropped to about 1 million.

This year, the island welcomed just 25 foreigners from January to March. Last year 1.1 million tourists visited the island in the same period. The pandemic has seen more than 4.3 million Balinese people out of work.

Kuta’s streets were once bustling with tourists. Now, they’re unrecognisable.

Will the scheme help the people who need it?

Australian expat Amanda runs the ‘Let’s Help Bali’ Facebook group, which has almost 14,000 members. She explains that many Balinese locals leave their villages to get jobs in tourism, which are more often than not in the city.

“This means the impact doesn’t just affect that immediate person but the whole family who rely on that income,” she told Ticker NEWS.

Amanda says she thinks the scheme “will help very few people”, and the Indonesian government needs to reopen Bali’s borders to support locals in a meaningful way.

“Until the borders are open, I don’t see much changing here,” she said.

“Bali needs help from everywhere”

While support for the program isn’t universal, it appears as though everyone can agree that Bali is suffering. Ketut Ardana, Vice Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, says the Work From Bali program is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t go far enough.

Health risks of COVID

Despite these efforts to reopen Bali to tourists, COVID remains an issue on the island with almost 2 million total cases, and over 500 active cases.

Nusa Dua is one of Indonesia’s three “green zones,” where the vaccination roll-out has been prioritised. Local newspapers have reported more than 8,000 staff in Nusa Dua, have received a second dose of the vaccine.

Ketut Ardana says he’s “not worried” about the potential health risks of opening borders for travel.

“We are ready and safe to receive tourists,” he said.

Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.

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Trump’s tariffs disrupt Australia’s trade, impacting economy

Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could negatively disrupt Australia’s economy, impacting exports like beef and canola oil amid global trade tensions.

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Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could negatively disrupt Australia’s economy, impacting exports like beef and canola oil amid global trade tensions.

In Short

Trump’s trade tariffs threaten Australian exports, notably canola oil and beef, with China’s retaliatory export curbs exacerbating the situation.

A full trade war could drastically impact Australia’s iron ore industry and currency stability, complicating its trade relations amidst rising global competition.

Donald Trump’s new trade tariffs could have adverse effects on Australian exports, including canola oil, beef, and critical minerals.

China has implemented retaliatory export curbs on metals essential for technology, raising concerns as China controls much of the global supply. While the US may seek alternatives in countries like Australia for strategic minerals, tensions with Canada complicate this shift.

However, a full-scale trade war would negatively impact Australia’s largest commodity export, iron ore. A weakening Chinese economy could reduce demand for steel-making materials, harming Australia’s trade interests. Trump’s potential expansion of tariffs on aluminium and steel poses additional risks to local manufacturers amid fears of cheap imports undermining the market.

The beef industry could also face disruption. As the US cattle herd declines, tariffs might disrupt Australian beef exports, leading to price hikes. Conversely, Canada could increase canola exports to non-US markets, intensifying competition for Australian oilseed farmers.

Furthermore, the recent tariff announcements have caused fluctuations in the Australian dollar, which hit low levels against the US dollar initially. Subsequent relief for Canada and Mexico caused a brief recovery, yet ongoing tariff disputes could negatively impact the currency’s stability.

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Trump’s tariffs raise prices on Chinese imports

Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could raise prices for electronics, clothing, cars, and home appliances in the US.

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Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could raise prices for electronics, clothing, cars, and home appliances in the US.

In Short

President Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from China, potentially increasing costs for US consumers on electronics, clothing, cars, and appliances. The National Retail Federation urges negotiations to mitigate price hikes while analysts predict significant increases in product prices.

President Donald Trump has implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, which could potentially rise further.

This move is likely to result in higher prices for various goods in the US, particularly consumer electronics, clothing and textiles, cars, and home appliances.

In 2023, the US imported $427 billion worth of goods from China. Notably, consumer electronics sales included substantial imports of cellphones and laptops. The Consumer Technology Association estimates that tariffs could raise laptop prices by up to 68%, video game consoles by 58%, and smartphones by 37%.

In clothing and textiles, imports amounted to $19.6 billion in 2023. Retailers may increase prices of apparel and accessories due to these tariffs.

Cars are affected as well, with US imports of car parts valued at $14.6 billion. Analysts suggest that domestic automakers sourcing parts from China may be compelled to raise prices.

Home appliances also face price increases. The National Retail Federation projected that the average price of a basic fridge could rise from $650 to $776.

The NRF has urged all parties to negotiate solutions to strengthen trade relations and avoid passing costs on to American consumers.

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Cryptocurrency drops amid Trump’s trade war concerns

“Cryptocurrency Prices Plunge Amid Market Uncertainty from Trump’s Trade War Impact”

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“Cryptocurrency Prices Plunge Amid Market Uncertainty from Trump’s Trade War Impact”

Cryptocurrency markets have experienced a significant downturn amid concerns over ongoing trade tensions.

The fluctuations in value seem closely tied to Donald Trump’s trade policies.

Investors are reacting to uncertainty surrounding international trade agreements.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have seen sharp declines in recent days.

Analysts suggest that the instability in traditional markets is influencing investor sentiment in cryptocurrencies.

This latest slide raises questions about the resilience of digital currencies in volatile economic environments.

Market observers are monitoring the situation closely for further developments.

Traders are advised to exercise caution given the risk associated with current market conditions.

Potential impacts on the broader economy could also influence the cryptocurrency landscape.

Overall, the situation reflects growing anxiety among investors regarding future market stability.

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