Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

We all love our country. Indeed, Australia is truly blessed to have places of great beauty. In fact, my electorate of Lyons is home to many of the most iconic natural attractions in this country, which bring visitors from around the world to experience same.

In the electorate of Lyons we have the majestic Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park. We have the Narawntapu National Park up on the north-west coast and Mount Field National Park, the second oldest national park in Australia. We have the Tasman National Park, the Ben Lomond National Park and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. We have the magnificent Freycinet National Park, Maria Island and the beautiful surrounding east coast beaches. The historic Port Arthur penitentiary site, one of Tasmania's most visited attractions, is also in my patch.

The latest Tasmanian tourism figures tell us that the state had more than one million visitors in the past 12 months, who spent in our state more than $1.5 billion. That was an 11 per cent increase on the previous 12 months. The visitor numbers were also up on the previous year by 18 per cent. The total number of visitors holidaying in Tasmania in the last 12 months was 410,300 compared to 349,000 the previous year.

Tourism is an important and growing industry for my state, which is struggling, as you well know, Deputy Speaker, financially. In my electorate of Lyons, 2,892 people or 7.1 per cent of the workforce are employed in tourism. We have 1,132 tourism related businesses, which represents 13.7 per cent of all businesses, according to the latest data from the National Tourism Business Count and Employment Atlas.

Cafe and restaurant jobs account for the largest proportion of tourism jobs—24 per cent in the electorate—followed by jobs in accommodation, 20 per cent; and in the retail sector, a little less at 17 per cent. Tourism is a critical economic driver across Australia, generating $95 billion of expenditure and directly employing 514,000 people and supporting 283,000 businesses. It is no less important in Tasmania and in my electorate.

As deputy chairman of the coalition backbench committee on tourism I know the value of the industry to my state as it struggles to work through the tough economic times it is being dealt by the collapse of the forestry industry and the poor economic management of my state by consecutive Labor governments over 16 years. I am determined to do what I can to help rebuild Tasmania as a vibrant and self-sufficient economy. Tourism will be an important part of that.

I note the comments today in one of the major newspapers in my state by the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania that suggests that, going into the 15 March election, neither major party has a plan, particularly in relation to the Spirit of Tasmania. I dispute this very strongly, because, certainly from the federal government's point of view, we are working through the Productivity Commission and the ACCC review into Bass Strait.

I just note, that in terms of the mechanics of getting across the highway, that the vessel is owned entirely by the state government. One wonders, given that people come from both directions, whether there is a case for Victoria—the other beneficiary of that highway—contributing to that vessel.

There is a plan. Tasmanian Liberals have a plan to support tourism generally. I support that plan. It will help the industry grow and contribute to the state's economic development. Will Hodgman will be the minister for tourism, we hope, after 15 March. The policy includes a plan to open up our national parks and world heritage areas to tourists by calling for expressions of interest from private investors and tourism operators. No better example could be given than in the Cradle Mountain hut experience and Simon Currant and the Pumphouse Point development. Proponents would have to propose sensible, low-impact ecotourism experiences and infrastructure. This would broaden the range of unique experiences on offer in Tasmania's national parks. Cradle Mountain is a great example of how sensitive development can be done. Appropriate development around state parks and reserves would encourage and drive visitation, and unlock the potential of the parks to the broader community.

I compliment Tourism Tasmania for the work that they have done in the past 12 months with their Go behind the Scenery campaign and the good work being done by the regional tourism organisations. I seek leave to table 'Liberal plan to create new tourism jobs by unlocking our parks and World Heritage areas'.

Leave granted.

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