DESPERATE Far North tourism leaders and operators are standing on a cliff edge and fear thousands of people will be left out of work within weeks if the federal government does not extend the JobKeeper program. The March deadline for the COVID payments looms large for the local industry whose business completely dried up with the closure of international and state borders. With February and March already traditionally quiet in the region, the situation has become dire according to Tourism Tropical North Queensland chairman Ken Chapman. He said the Far North was the most dependent on international visitors in Australia and with no real time frame for when they may return, there needed to be further assistance.