Patrick Gorman (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Western Australia) Share this | Hansard source

We have 65,000 years of stories to tell, plus we are so privileged to have a live and living Indigenous culture all across this land. We know that the No. 1 desire of international tourists when they come to Australia is to see, experience and breathe Indigenous cultures, and we let them down in that expectation. We don't make it easy.

We also know that Indigenous stories and Indigenous cultures are some of the most powerful stories that we as Australians have to tell when we travel abroad. One of the most powerful tools Australia's diplomats have is talking about the ongoing struggles and process of reconciliation through which our country continues to grow. I've seen that firsthand when I've travelled around the world with Australia's foreign minister and with the gentleman who delivered the apology, Kevin Rudd. I've seen just how much people will stop and say, 'Tell us about that process. Tell us about what you're doing.' Countries all over the world want to hear about Australia's journey, and cultures all over the world want to hear about the culture that has existed here for 65,000 years.

Last week I met with someone who helps tell those stories and give that experience: Robert Taylor, who is the chief executive officer of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council. They have 146 members. For a long period of time they were the only Indigenous tourism operators council anywhere in Australia. They estimate there are about 600 Indigenous tourism businesses across this land. Robert is passionate about growing tourism and giving tourists, from school students to older international tourists, what it is they want to see when they visit this country: cultural education—making sure that people get a real sense of what Australia really is.

One of the groups that helps in that process is the Tjaltjraak people in the Esperance region. I, with my college the member for Fremantle, had the privilege of spending time with them just a few weeks ago, talking and meeting with their Indigenous rangers, who not only enable some of the tourism experiences that many people want but also make sure that we preserve for the next generation these lands and the way that people have lived on these lands for thousands of years.

The truth is that, right now in 2021, tourism in Australia is hurting like it's never hurt before. In 2019 we had more than nine million international visitors come, spending $45 billion. COVID decimated that industry. In accommodation and hospitality 27 per cent of jobs were shed in the first few months of COVID. The tourism industry dropped 15 per cent of jobs in 2020. We know that travel agents continue to feel the pain of not being able to provide the product that they sell. And so I say $40 million is a great start for Indigenous tourism from this government but that's all it is. It's a small start.

The big opportunity when it comes to Indigenous tourism in Australia is what Infrastructure Australia has identified as a national priority—that is, to start building the network of Indigenous cultural centres across Australia to make sure we do give tourists that experience that they want. Tourism Australia says this will reduce the opportunities for exploitation of Indigenous artist, that many of the cultural facilities we have in Australia today aren't fit for purpose and what we need nationally is a nationally coordinated program of cultural centres.

I think Western Australia can be part of that solution. We have seen a $217 million commitment to increasing Indigenous tourism from the McGowan government. That includes some $50 million of seed funding towards an Indigenous cultural centre in Perth, ideally housed on the Derbal Yiragan in the heart of my electorate. I say it could be the Sydney Opera House of the west coast: something that everyone who comes to Australia not only wants to see but knows they have to see if they are truly to have experienced Australia. It can serve as part of the hub of Indigenous cultural centres across this land. It wouldn't be just for Western Australia; it would be for all of Australia. The federal government should look to do its part—more than the small, $2 million commitment we saw in the troubled Perth City Deal.

This is a major tourism opportunity for this country. It's an opportunity for Western Australia. It's an opportunity for Indigenous peoples across this country.

See this speech in context