Welfare. Can't Get A Job,..Yeah Right.

After retiring I spent a couple of years doing reno's etc around the house then boredom set in and I decided to open my own business doing what I love. Being outdoors.

Set up a budget adventure tour company and as I am lucky and mortgage free designed pricing etc to just above break even (admin stuff, insurance, regulatory fees etc etc and then running costs of vehicles and so on). In the end was charging about 50-60% of what the big companies were for same multi day camping and hiking tours with meals etc etc etc.

After 14 months operating and needing 4 full-time staff things going swimmingly, then an announcement that fee structures for tour operators would be changing on the 1st of July (couple of years ago now). Sat down and did the maths, to reach break even would have had to almost double price of every tour we offered and with our dollar south and going further that way, would no longer be able to be a "budget" tour company.

Sadest day in a very long time putting 4 people out of work. 3 got jobs with other tour companies, the last one still out of work and back with family helping out. Local indig kid with a missing arm from birth defect. Sadly media stereo types etc, and his poor education will probably mean he will struggle finding work again, but tbh he was probably my hardest working employee.

Not all unemployed are so by choice, and not all on the "dole" want to be. Big business needs to pay fair share and tax reform needed to prevent bull#&@ write offs and governments (all parties and levels) need to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul because one day Peter will have nothing left to get stolen.

Just my story

Sent from my A51f using AULRO mobile app

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Originally Posted by Jesters Td5

After retiring I spent a couple of years doing reno's etc around the house then boredom set in and I decided to open my own business doing what I love. Being outdoors.

Set up a budget adventure tour company and as I am lucky and mortgage free designed pricing etc to just above break even (admin stuff, insurance, regulatory fees etc etc and then running costs of vehicles and so on). In the end was charging about 50-60% of what the big companies were for same multi day camping and hiking tours with meals etc etc etc.

After 14 months operating and needing 4 full-time staff things going swimmingly, then an announcement that fee structures for tour operators would be changing on the 1st of July (couple of years ago now). Sat down and did the maths, to reach break even would have had to almost double price of every tour we offered and with our dollar south and going further that way, would no longer be able to be a "budget" tour company.

Sadest day in a very long time putting 4 people out of work. 3 got jobs with other tour companies, the last one still out of work and back with family helping out. Local indig kid with a missing arm from birth defect. Sadly media stereo types etc, and his poor education will probably mean he will struggle finding work again, but tbh he was probably my hardest working employee.

Not all unemployed are so by choice, and not all on the "dole" want to be. Big business needs to pay fair share and tax reform needed to prevent bull#&@ write offs and governments (all parties and levels) need to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul because one day Peter will have nothing left to get stolen.

Just my story

Sent from my A51f using AULRO mobile app

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What do you mean "Fee Structures For Tour Operators Would Be Changing"?
What changed, who changed it, and how were your costs increased?
Not doubting you even 1% mate, just want to know what changed?
Pickles.

Ever tried getting a job at Bunnings? I can't get to the interview stage. I might be 70 but I recon I could run rings around most of their staff.

Computer playing up - double post (and I still haven't found the "delete post" button). http://www.jonrb.com/emoticons/bog.gif

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Originally Posted by jx2mad

Ever tried getting a job at Bunnings? I can't get to the interview stage. I might be 70 but I recon I could run rings around most of their staff.

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Would you really want to ???? :o

My young bloke used to work for them before he started his apprenticeship. I wouldn't get out of bed for the money that they were paying him and his fellow workers. :censored:

But yes - I agree with your comment about being able to run rings around most of their staff. If I am chasing something from a hardware store in Kalgoorlie where I think I may need assistance from store staff, I go to the Mitre 10 up the road from Bunnings. ;)

There's an echo in Kal, in Kal, in Kal.:p

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Originally Posted by BMKal

Would you really want to ???? :o

My young bloke used to work for them before he started his apprenticeship. I wouldn't get out of bed for the money that they were paying him and his fellow workers. :censored:

But yes - I agree with your comment about being able to run rings around most of their staff. If I am chasing something from a hardware store in Kalgoorlie where I think I may need assistance from store staff, I go to the Mitre 10 up the road from Bunnings. ;)

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Was it the minimum wage, which I think is about $17?

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Was it the minimum wage, which I think is about $17?

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Can't remember exactly what he was on, as it was a few years ago. But I do remember him telling me how the old bloke on the forklift who had been working there for years was on about $36K a year. I used that as an example to convince him to go back to school, and then get an apprenticeship.

I was talking to a staff member at our local Bunnings. She said she used to shop there until she got the job. Now she goes elsewhere.

There's the distinction.. people want to pay **** all for a product..

Then get all moral when they find out a discount chain pays lower rates of pay than some...

$17AUD an hour is still higher than minimum wage in many American states.