After my successful re-election campaign, I will return for a fourth term as the Member for Southport. Along with this important role I have been appointed as the new Minister of Tourism and Fair Trading. This position also includes the Racing and Liquor Licensing portfolios.

During my time as Minister I will be visiting tourism icons all over Queensland and this page will keep track of my work. I encourage everyone to follow my travels as the Minister by reading below my entries into the Minister's Diary where I will write about my latest experiences.

Peter Lawlor.

The Second Best Job in the World
Posted by editor (editor) on Jul 22 2009
Ministerial Diary >>

Best Job in the World Finalist Mieko Kobayashi may have missed out on becoming the Island Caretaker but she has scored what could be described as the second best job in the world. Mieko impressed Tourism Queensland so much a new 'Queensland Ambassador to Japan' role has been created for her. The Japanese place a huge amount of Emphasis on celebrity endorsement and Mieko has been an unofficial Queensland ambassador ever since she was announced as one of the top 16.

She'll spend the next 12 months participating in activities such as trade shows, media interviews, consumer events and PR initiatives as well as blogging about her experiences in Queensland. She's already captured the attention of major Japanese network Fuji TV who will air a prime-time documentary about Mieko's quest for The Best Job in the World to an audience of more than 15 million. It's no secret that Japanese tourists to Queensland have been in decline for some time but Tourism Queensland and the tourism industry remain committed to attracting this market here.

Last changed: Jul 22 2009 at 11:09 AM