Estimates Committee Hearing Opening Statement
Posted by editor (editor) on Jul 23 2010
2010 >>

Thank you Madam Chair.

The Bligh Government has a plan for Queensland.

It’s a plan to continue to create jobs; to continue to build a strong, smart and fair economy.
From a strong economy comes a strong community.

The Bligh Government is committed to protecting Queensland consumers and cutting red tape for business so both can operate with confidence and certainty.

As part of this, the Office of Fair Trading obtained $6.55 million in redress for consumers in 2009-10  - more than double the target of $3.2 million.

That’s real money back in the pockets of Queenslanders.

Over the past two years the Office of Fair Trading has worked with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a one-stop-shop, fair trading system to make it easier for business and safer for consumers.

The highlights of these reforms include a national trade measurement system and a national system of regulation for consumer credit.

Madam Chair, 2009-10 was a very busy year for tourism.

Tourism was one of the industries hardest hit by the Global Financial Crisis.

That’s why last year we developed the $37.8 million Tourism Action Plan to 2012.

122,000 Queenslanders rely on tourism, directly for their jobs, and this commitment was part of the Protecting Tourism Jobs plan.

It gives me great pleasure to report that we have achieved some outstanding results.

Tourism Queensland and its partners created the most successful tourism campaign in history – The Best Job in the World - generating more than $400 million in publicity value for Queensland.

Tourism Queensland’s domestic marketing focused on hard-hitting campaigns to encourage visitors to Queensland.
And this plan paid off.

The latest National Visitor Survey showed 15.5 million Australians visited Queensland in the year – which was slightly down on the previous year. But importantly they stayed longer, and the holiday expenditure remained steady.

During 2009-10, Tourism Queensland achieved an estimated $590 million in domestic and international publicity – far in excess of the targeted $348 million.

Our commitment to tourism jobs also includes initiatives funded and administered by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, such as:
·       $3.4 million for Tourism
·       $42.5 million for a cultural precinct in Cairns
·       $30 million for a cruise ship terminal in Townsville and $2 million to complete construction of a terminal in Cairns
·       $74.5 million to complete expansion of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
·       $100 million for the new Gold Coast AFL stadium at Carrara.

Madam Chair, the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing plays a key role in the community.

Over the past number of years we have seen social attitudes and behaviours change and the issue of safety at licensed venues is now at the forefront.

We need a balanced and considered approach.

That’s why we took the responsible approach and conducted a Parliamentary Inquiry into alcohol-related violence.  
The committee’s final report was released in March 2010 and contained 68 wide-ranging recommendations.

The Bligh Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related violence. And the government response to the Inquiry is due to be released imminently.

The Bligh Government remains committed to minimising gambling-related harm.

We are funding about $11 million to reduce gambling harm, such Gambling Help Services, and social marketing campaigns.
In addition, we are delivering more than $46 million to the community through our community benefit schemes from the revenue from gaming.

Finally, the Bligh Government’s 2010-11 budget is a historic one for the racing industry with a funding injection of about $80 million for new and improved infrastructure over the next four years.

This investment will create new jobs and take the industry confidently into the future.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all the staff of Tourism Queensland and DEEDI in the areas of Tourism, Fair Trading, and Liquor licensing, Gaming and Racing for their hard work in 2009-10.

I look forward to continuing to work with you this coming year.