Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Large cruise vessels are exempt from the requirements under the current legislation, and there is no change proposed in that regard. My personal view is that there is a market for cruises at the top end of the range for wholly Australian run operations. I think there is potential for that kind of niche market to be effectively filled by a skilled and well-managed entrepreneur, and that sort of arrangement can be successful in the market. I think that should be encouraged wherever it can be done. But the reality is that the cruise market in this country will continue to grow—it is very popular at the present time. One of the really important things in this legislation for the cruise industry is that for the first time they will be able to have their vessels dry-docked and serviced in Australia, where previously they would have had to be imported. I see this legislation as creating more Australian jobs in the maintenance and servicing of vessels—and indeed major overhauls and modification and refits of those vessels. There is real potential for Australia, which has good skills in this area, to be able to create extra jobs, and that is part of building a stronger economy.

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