Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I speak to the substance of the motion, I want to address the issue for the member for Mallee. There is a time and a place to raise the important issues she raised. I don't see how this motion before the House about caravan parks and caravan park grants fits in any way. Out of respect for the member for Mallee, we didn't object to her continuing, but that contribution had nothing to do with the issue before the House, and that needs to be brought to the attention of the House.

I thank the member for Gilmore for bringing forward this motion. Both the member for Gilmore and I represent regional electorates with many wonderful caravan parks dotted through them. Caravan parks have long been a holiday destination for many families, and I'm sure many of us in this place can recall great memories of spending time in local caravan parks as kids. We'd make great friends, as temporary as they were, with the other holidaying kids. We'd collect shells at the beach and do all sorts of things—barbecues and campfires. I'm sure we've all had adventures to share with school friends upon our return home.

The Albanese government recognises and understands the importance of caravan parks, not just for our fond memories but for local tourism and regional economies and for our culture as a nation. We're generally an outdoorsy sort of place, and caravans are a great way to get around the country. In fact, one of the very few positives—if there were any positives out of the COVID-19 pandemic—was that it forced us all to stay closer to home. I know those in mainland states were perhaps very close to home and not able to get out of their houses. In Tasmania, we were lucky enough to travel through most of our state. But we got to holiday at home, explore our state and get out and about in our own backyard. It was at this time that Australians were reminded of the value of caravan parks. It was a positive for the regional caravan parks and economies that had been hit hard by COVID. They didn't have the interstate and international tourists coming in; they relied much more heavily on locals and locals delivered. We all got out and together we boosted our economy and supported hardworking local businesses.

Tourism Research Australia has found that, across our country, 95 per cent of tourism operators are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees, and that's even more true in the regions where the operations of small businesses are often the lifeblood of the communities they are in. It was because of this that Labor committed to providing $10 million to support new and improved caravan park facilities across Australia because we want to see visitors continue to travel to our regions and support those regional economies, and we want to see the culture of caravanning continue and thrive.

In government, we are delivering on the commitment we made. This measure will help park operators continue to provide important, quality accommodation options for families and budget-conscious travellers. The funds will help operators in regional areas in particular and will help encourage more people to holiday in the regions, boosting local economies and ensuring we can continue to explore our own backyards. Grants from $10,000 to $100,000 are being delivered now to 111 projects right around Australia, including in Tasmania. The grants ensure new facilities and upgraded infrastructure for park operators and long-lasting memories for those who use these sites. The better the facilities, the more attractive they are to tourists and the more local economies will benefit from the influx.

There are scores of caravan parks dotted throughout my electorate, which, as I like to say, takes in half the land mass of Tasmania—the better half of Tasmania; Deputy Speaker Wilke, you may disagree—and it includes some of the most iconic and beautiful landscapes and coastlines in the nation. I did a quick count in my head and stopped at 33. I'm sure there are more that I've forgotten. They range from deluxe glamping-style parks, like the one at Scamander, to budget-friendly parks down on the Tasman Peninsula. When travelling through my electorate overnight, I will sometimes stay at Tasman Holiday Park in St Helens or the Discovery Parks site in Hadspen. But there are many more that I've missed. The Hagley RV Farm Stay run by Stephen and Annette Camino is a well-loved tourist spot for grey nomads and tourists travelling through the Meander Valley. People love to stay at the farm site, enjoying the fresh air and the wide open space. The Triabunna Cabin and Caravan Park does a great job down on the east coast, particularly for people visiting Maria Island. I must give a shout-out to the White Beach Tourist Park and the NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park, which are favourites for people looking for a budget experience or a family experience on the Tasman Peninsula.

I'd like to thank all the caravan park operators for the great work they do.

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