Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

Batman, I am sorry. Well, we are so fond of the member for Hotham! Perhaps what the member for Batman would like to take back to his friends in Victoria is that, back in 2001-02, they actually kicked $52.2 million into the promotion of tourism, wound it back to $38 million, then back to $40 million, and now they have got it up and they are very proud of having $46 million. That is a message that you could take back to your friends in the state ALP and the government of Victoria.

The member for Macquarie is quite correct: some 4.8 per cent of the people in his electorate are employed in tourism, and that amounts to about 3,300 people. So I can understand his concerns about tourism and the need to promote it. I also say to the member for Macquarie—and I do understand—that because this government has established such a strong financial position for investment opportunity there has been the recent development and investment in the new resorts being established in his electorate by Emirates. I know that he has worked hard and has encouraged them to come together to bring about further investment to create a greater number of jobs. He, like the member for Ryan, is an outstanding advocate for tourism and, more importantly, for jobs in his region.

He will benefit directly from the investment in tourism by this government of $325 million over the next two years. He will benefit from our campaigns on an international stage to promote Australia and provide further opportunities for people to come here. I refer to the Brand Australia campaign and the fine work done through Tourism Australia. Those opposite, rather than harping on about minor issues, need to get behind tourism and support it. If they want unemployment to continue to fall, one of the greatest and quickest opportunities for growth in employment numbers is through the tourism industry.

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