❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Regional Development about the Dolphin Discovery Centre's financial troubles and the Minister's awareness of the situation. The Minister acknowledges the Centre's importance but emphasizes its independent management and the broader challenges faced by tourism operators post-COVID.
AnsweredQoN 146Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DOLPHIN
DISCOVERY CENTRE
146. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Regional Development:
Under the minister's watch, we have seen the Bunbury
premier tourism attraction, the Dolphin Discovery Centre, which was funded by royalties for regions, enter
voluntary administration. How long has the minister known that the Dolphin Discovery Centre was in financial trouble,
and was he approached by the then CEO for financial assistance?
DISCOVERY CENTRE
146. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Regional Development:
Under the minister's watch, we have seen the Bunbury
premier tourism attraction, the Dolphin Discovery Centre, which was funded by royalties for regions, enter
voluntary administration. How long has the minister known that the Dolphin Discovery Centre was in financial trouble,
and was he approached by the then CEO for financial assistance?
AnswerView source ↗
The Dolphin Discovery Centre is a fabulous tourism attraction
in Bunbury, frequently used by international visitors, local visitors and
volunteers who flock to it, and it is still open and operating. It is, of
course, managed by an independent Dolphin Discovery Centre incorporated body
that is not accountable to government. It leases the building from government.
My office is always open to the Dolphin Discovery Centre to discuss its needs
with us, as it has done on occasions post-COVID when many tourism operators and
tourism operations really struggled with the
downturn of visitation during the COVID period. It, like many other organisations,
is managing that process , and when it was ready, it made the decision to
call in the voluntary receiver. When it has the recommendations from the voluntary receiver, I am sure that it will
come to see me. It absolutely knows that we support the Dolphin Discovery
Centre as a very valuable tourism operation in Bunbury. In fact, all around the
region, we have a Minister for Tourism fighting for tourism in Western Australia,
while members opposite fight over who should ask the question of the day. I wonder
how long it took them to decide who should ask that question. I have been sitting here waiting for this question with bated
breath. Has it come? It has taken until today. I think there have been quite a few debates about who should get that
particular question, while our Minister for Tourism is out there getting events, looking at how to support tourism, building visitor numbers and making
this state a great state.
in Bunbury, frequently used by international visitors, local visitors and
volunteers who flock to it, and it is still open and operating. It is, of
course, managed by an independent Dolphin Discovery Centre incorporated body
that is not accountable to government. It leases the building from government.
My office is always open to the Dolphin Discovery Centre to discuss its needs
with us, as it has done on occasions post-COVID when many tourism operators and
tourism operations really struggled with the
downturn of visitation during the COVID period. It, like many other organisations,
is managing that process , and when it was ready, it made the decision to
call in the voluntary receiver. When it has the recommendations from the voluntary receiver, I am sure that it will
come to see me. It absolutely knows that we support the Dolphin Discovery
Centre as a very valuable tourism operation in Bunbury. In fact, all around the
region, we have a Minister for Tourism fighting for tourism in Western Australia,
while members opposite fight over who should ask the question of the day. I wonder
how long it took them to decide who should ask that question. I have been sitting here waiting for this question with bated
breath. Has it come? It has taken until today. I think there have been quite a few debates about who should get that
particular question, while our Minister for Tourism is out there getting events, looking at how to support tourism, building visitor numbers and making
this state a great state.
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