❓ The Minister for Tourism provides an update on the Broome port dredging project, highlighting its importance for attracting more cruise ships and boosting tourism in the region, while also criticising the previous government's inaction on the issue.
AnsweredQoN 731Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — BROOME
731. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to creating more jobs in the Kimberley and across regional WA
through its record investment in tourism. Can the minister update the house on
the dredging work that is currently underway at Broome port, and can the
minister also advise the house how these upgrades will attract more cruise
ships to Broome and grow tourism in the region?
731. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to creating more jobs in the Kimberley and across regional WA
through its record investment in tourism. Can the minister update the house on
the dredging work that is currently underway at Broome port, and can the
minister also advise the house how these upgrades will attract more cruise
ships to Broome and grow tourism in the region?
AnswerView source ↗
Can I thank the wonderful member
for Kimberley for her fantastic question, and not only for her strong advocacy
for the entire Kimberley region, but also her support for tourism growth in the
Kimberley in particular. There is great news. There was not great news, though,
when we first came to office, member. I think members may recall that one of
the most distressing pieces of news that I inherited from the previous
appalling management of tourism in Western Australia by the previous
government, apart from the loss of the Margaret River Pro, was the impending
loss of homeporting of cruise shipping in Western Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr P. PAPALIA : It was
brought to my attention, and I have the letter from the CEO of Carnival Cruise
Line Australia to the previous Premier —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : It was sent
in September 2016 and drew to the then Premier and tourism minister's
attention that were the government not to commit to dredging Broome harbour,
making some aesthetic improvements to Fremantle port, and putting $1 million
towards shore-side tensioning in Geraldton, it would withdraw homeporting from Western
Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, it is your last warning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The then
Premier did nothing, really. He sent into action the then Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister for Tourism—none other than the now member
for Darling Range. He thought she might sort it out, so he had her meet with
the senior executives from Carnival in December or January of 2017. That
resulted in no outcome and, as a consequence, sadly, when I came into office,
there was a letter—confirmed with a personal phone call that I made to
the CEO of Carnival to find out what I could do about it—confirming
that the previous government had failed so
dismally that Carnival was going to withdraw homeporting. That happened, and
there was a 30 per cent reduction in the number of cruise visitors, and
a reduction from $385 million a year to $275 million, or thereabouts, in one year as a consequence of its failure. We took on
the task, and I can report to the house that as of now, the long-awaited
dredging of Broome harbour is underway. It is on the way to being dredged.
Interestingly, Minister for Transport, the cost has gone up considerably since the
initial estimates. Nevertheless, we have committed to it, and it is going to
happen.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order. I have warned you three times. Just listen.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The reason it
is important is that there are obstacles in Broome harbour. They have been
there for a long, long time—forever. They limit large cruise ship
access to tidal windows. Now, when we get rid of those obstacles, there will be
24/7 access. Large cruise ships will be able to come in at night-time, disgorge
their passengers in the daytime, and receive them all again in the evening, and
sail under perfect operational conditions for those cruise ships. Broome is the
most sought-after cruise destination in the country for Carnival passengers. As
a consequence of this and all the other investments by the McGowan government
in the Broome region, such as sealing Cape Leveque Road and the affordable
flights, they love us in Broome; they are very appreciative. Whenever I go
there, my friend Harold Tracey commends the government for its efforts. We have
made a significant change to optimism and tourism prospects in Broome. Cruise
shipping is set to boom. It will go from around 18 port visits this year to
about 32 next year. It is all good news, and the member should be very proud of
what her government is delivering to her region.
for Kimberley for her fantastic question, and not only for her strong advocacy
for the entire Kimberley region, but also her support for tourism growth in the
Kimberley in particular. There is great news. There was not great news, though,
when we first came to office, member. I think members may recall that one of
the most distressing pieces of news that I inherited from the previous
appalling management of tourism in Western Australia by the previous
government, apart from the loss of the Margaret River Pro, was the impending
loss of homeporting of cruise shipping in Western Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr P. PAPALIA : It was
brought to my attention, and I have the letter from the CEO of Carnival Cruise
Line Australia to the previous Premier —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : It was sent
in September 2016 and drew to the then Premier and tourism minister's
attention that were the government not to commit to dredging Broome harbour,
making some aesthetic improvements to Fremantle port, and putting $1 million
towards shore-side tensioning in Geraldton, it would withdraw homeporting from Western
Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, it is your last warning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The then
Premier did nothing, really. He sent into action the then Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister for Tourism—none other than the now member
for Darling Range. He thought she might sort it out, so he had her meet with
the senior executives from Carnival in December or January of 2017. That
resulted in no outcome and, as a consequence, sadly, when I came into office,
there was a letter—confirmed with a personal phone call that I made to
the CEO of Carnival to find out what I could do about it—confirming
that the previous government had failed so
dismally that Carnival was going to withdraw homeporting. That happened, and
there was a 30 per cent reduction in the number of cruise visitors, and
a reduction from $385 million a year to $275 million, or thereabouts, in one year as a consequence of its failure. We took on
the task, and I can report to the house that as of now, the long-awaited
dredging of Broome harbour is underway. It is on the way to being dredged.
Interestingly, Minister for Transport, the cost has gone up considerably since the
initial estimates. Nevertheless, we have committed to it, and it is going to
happen.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order. I have warned you three times. Just listen.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The reason it
is important is that there are obstacles in Broome harbour. They have been
there for a long, long time—forever. They limit large cruise ship
access to tidal windows. Now, when we get rid of those obstacles, there will be
24/7 access. Large cruise ships will be able to come in at night-time, disgorge
their passengers in the daytime, and receive them all again in the evening, and
sail under perfect operational conditions for those cruise ships. Broome is the
most sought-after cruise destination in the country for Carnival passengers. As
a consequence of this and all the other investments by the McGowan government
in the Broome region, such as sealing Cape Leveque Road and the affordable
flights, they love us in Broome; they are very appreciative. Whenever I go
there, my friend Harold Tracey commends the government for its efforts. We have
made a significant change to optimism and tourism prospects in Broome. Cruise
shipping is set to boom. It will go from around 18 port visits this year to
about 32 next year. It is all good news, and the member should be very proud of
what her government is delivering to her region.
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