James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises the importance of regional tourism to the Australian economy, and especially so in the state of Queensland, where last year alone there were 2 million visitors to Queensland spending $5 billion, with 43 cents in every tourism dollar spent in our regions;

(b) notes the excellent work that Outback Queensland Tourism carries out by promoting hard-working Queensland tourism and accommodation operators;

(c) commends the members of Outback Queensland Tourism that came together for the organisation's 2018 awards in Roma on 3 November 2018;

(d) congratulates all category winners of the 2018 Outback Queensland Tourism Awards, being: Major Tourist Attraction – Qantas Museum; Tourist Attraction – Cobbold Gorge; Festivals and Events – Big Red Bash; Festivals and Events (special commendation) – Mt Isa Rodeo; Cultural Tourism – Outback Pioneers; Visitor Information and Services – Julia Creek Visitors Information Centre; Tour and Transport Operators – Outback Aussie Tours; Caravan and Holiday Parks – Adels Grove; Hosted Accommodation – Cobbold Village; Best Outback Pub – Goldfield Hotel; Contribution Volunteer/Group – Gail Wipaki; Young Achiever – Becky Kuhl; New Tourism Business – Waltzing Matilda Centre; Local Government – Quilpie Shire Council; Outback Mates Award – Greg Donovan; Vince Evert Award – Rod Low Mow; and

(e) acknowledges and commends the Liberal National Coalition Government for its Tourism 2020 plan to continue to grow the tourism sector, which has been supported by earmarking $45 million for tourism in the latest round of the Building Better Regions Fund.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor agrees with parts (a) to (d) of this motion and would also like to recognise the importance of regional tourism, commend Outback Queensland Tourism and congratulate all category winners of the 2018 Outback Queensland Tourism Awards. However, Labor opposes part (e) of this motion as the Tourism 2020 strategy was in fact an important initiative of the former federal Labor government. Moreover, the current coalition government has only cancelled programs aimed at supporting tourism. It cancelled the T-QUAL program and the Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund upon coming into office. So we ask that this motion be split.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect to motion 1186, I will now be putting provisions (a) to (d) in the first instance and then (e) separately. So the question now is that the provisions (a) through (d) of motion No. 1186 be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The question now is that paragraph (e) of motion No. 1186 be agreed to.