Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I want to update some aspects of the assistance being provided due to the devastation as a consequence of recent floods and Cyclone Yasi. This remains an important ongoing priority for the government and we have made our commitment clear to rebuild these disaster affected communities. In this regard I want to commend the role of the business enterprise centres in providing assistance to small business and the farming community. The government provides some $42 million for the business enterprise centres to help support small business growth and sustainability, and they have excelled during the flood crisis, not only those centres located in affected areas but other centres throughout Australia, by providing support and lending staff. They have done a fantastic job.

The 36 small business advisory centres are located throughout Australia in rural, regional and suburban areas. We are to open our 37th shortly in Cairns and I want to acknowledge the work of my colleague Senator McLucas, who has argued very long and hard for an additional new centre in Cairns. Just this morning the Australian and Queensland governments announced that the state’s tourism industry will receive an additional $2 million in flood and cyclone recovery assistance. This adds to the $10 million marketing fund announced on 28 January. Unfortunately there is a perception, not just in some areas of Australia but overseas, that the tourism industry has been shut down in parts of Queensland. This is just not the case. I want to reiterate that the tourism industry in Queensland is open for business. We are determined to correct the perception that has unfortunately arisen. The federal government today also announced details of a $1.4 billion boost— (Time expired)