Southport MP. MP for Southport, Gold Coast. Peter Lawlor: peterlawlor.com.au

PO Box 340
Chirn Park
Queensland 4215
Tel: 5532 5068
Fax: 5532 0394
email: southport@parliament.qld.gov.au


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Drive Tourism
Posted by editor (editor) on Jun 05 2009
2009 >>

Question:

Mr STEVENS: My question is to the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. I refer to the minister’s immediate predecessor’s response to question on notice 1325, which I table.

Tabled paper: Answer to question on notice No. 1325, asked on 11 September 2008.
I quote from that response, which states—
The Bligh government’s fuel subsidy is helping define our state’s competitive advantage by cushioning the impact of rising fuel
prices for most tourists who choose to holiday in Queensland.
Does the minister agree with his predecessor’s assessment?

Answer:

Mr LAWLOR: Drive tourism is front and centre for the Bligh government. Through the levy, petrol
savings will go straight into Queensland roads. The $2.4 billion that we expect to save will support the
$6.5 billion road and transport infrastructure plan. That plan equals better roads, better bridges, better
roadside facilities and 39,000 jobs. You cannot take a holiday if you do not have a job; also, you cannot
take a drive holiday without road infrastructure. When last in government those opposite froze jobs and
froze capital works. This time around they wanted to cut capital works and cut 12,000 jobs. Members
should just think what 12,000 job cuts would have meant for our economy. In my particular portfolio, for
instance, Liquor Licensing inspectors, gone; Fair Trading officers responsible for ensuring the safety of
children’s toys, gone; investigating illegal activity, gone. Public safety generally would be put at risk.
With the advent of the global financial crisis—

Opposition members interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much audible conversation. Minister, please resume your

seat. I call the honourable minister.

Mr Springborg: If you keep this up, you will be gone.
Honourable members interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please resume your seat. I call the minister.
Mr LAWLOR: With the advent of the global financial crisis, the Bligh government has not sat idle.

Whilst states such as Western Australia have cut spending, the Bligh government is boosting spending.
Tourism Queensland already markets three international journeys: the Great Sunshine Way, the Reef to
Outback and the Great Tropical drives. At the last election we committed $36 million of new money to
tourism promotion. In the first instance that will be directed to the domestic market. That is $12 million to
promote mainly domestic tourism. Even at 80c, the dollar is still low. With the world experiencing the
global financial crisis and swine flu, there is no better time for Australians to holiday in Queensland. The
Bligh government is prepared to make the tough decisions in these tough times. The opposition might
be owned by a multibillionaire, but it is still politically bankrupt.
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