Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

As the tourism industry well knows, as valued partners through the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, we work with the tourism industry as we work with the Queensland government, traditional owners, industry scientists, farmers—the entire range of partners necessary to build and sustain resilience in the reef and ensure its long-term health as well as to make sure we deliver on our policy commitments in relation to climate change and emissions reduction.

But I'll tell you what we don't do, which you do when it comes to the tourism industry: we don't talk down their greatest asset. We don't tell people, 'Don't bother about coming.' We make sure that people understand that what we are seeking to do as a government is preserve that asset, ensure that asset is there for future generations to visit—not scare them away as the Greens do. The Australian Greens are the greatest threat to the tourism industry in Queensland for the disgraceful way in which they try to scare visitors away by talking down a reef that is well worth visiting and will be well worth visiting for many generations— (Time expired)