Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On Friday 18 September I had the pleasure of officially opening the $2.3 million expansion of Wildlife Habitat in sunny Port Douglas. With the federal government's financial contribution of $900,000, Wildlife Habitat were able to construct a high-level viewing structure, multiple viewing platforms and boardwalks connecting the structures and access to the new Far North Queensland nocturnal house.

It's no secret that the Far North Queensland tourism economy has taken a drastic hit during COVID-19. The CaPTA Group, which encompass Wildlife Habitat and Rainforestation, are not immune from this downturn, but they've continued to power on with the help of the federal government's JobKeeper and ZooKeeper packages, along with their own commitment to tourism. The project has not only increased the competitiveness of Wildlife Habitat but also provided Port Douglas with a unique and iconic experience, which is a great point of difference to boost its profile in all tourist markets. This type of attraction will assist in bringing us out of this pandemic.

I would like to make special mention of the Woodward family—Pip and her three sons: Michael, Peter and Ben. Their vision in enhancing tourism and creating a transformative project in our region over the past 40 years has been second to none. I'd also like to acknowledge the fantastic work of their dedicated staff at these wildlife attractions. A lot of them have not been getting anywhere near the payments that they would normally get. They do it out of love and commitment. (Time expired)

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