❓ Question regarding declining intrastate tourism in WA and government initiatives to encourage Western Australians to holiday at home. The Minister outlines government investment in regional tourism and marketing.
AnsweredQoN 512Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the latest national visitor survey statistics. What is being done to ensure that more Western Australians holiday at home? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: Mr Speaker - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr Speaker - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: Mr Speaker - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr Speaker - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order! It is about time that I put it to members that if they do not want question time to continue, they should behave as they have been doing and we will stop it. Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I thank the member for Southern River for the question and his great interest in matters of the economy and tourism. Yesterday I was able to outline to the house the fact that Western Australia has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the highest growth rates in the country, the highest work force participation rates in the country and massive amounts of private investment into the local economy. However, I left a couple of things out. The government has managed to do this while maintaining a budget surplus. It has managed to do it while putting in place the biggest infrastructure program in the history of the state. At the same time, it has also managed to put in place the largest increase in spending on health, education and law and order. We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
We have also managed to put in place the largest amount of spending on attracting and retaining tourists in Western Australia. I outlined yesterday some of the success of that program in attracting international tourists to the state. Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr T.R. Buswell : It has been the lowest - The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr J.E. McGrath : Did you give them all a bucket and spade? The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for South Perth! Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There has been a 7.4 per cent increase in international visitors to Western Australia. There has also been a 2.7 per cent increase in interstate visitor numbers compared with the same period last year. That equates to over $1 billion being spent, or 10 million visitor night stays, by interstate tourists coming to Western Australia and enjoying all the great tourism product on offer here. Unfortunately, in domestic and intrastate tourism, like most other states, Western Australia is not doing as well as it perhaps could. There has been a trend in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia of fewer people choosing, unfortunately, to holiday at home. That needs to be addressed. The reasons for this can probably be sheeted home to things like rising fuel prices and cut-price airline wars that encourage people like the member for Hillarys to go to Bali for their holidays rather than holiday at home. The member for Hillarys, of course, takes every opportunity to go to Bali rather than staying here in Western Australia. Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Was this the sole purpose of this dorothy dixer? Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is a little fired up. Last week I had the opportunity of opening the first major hotel to be built in Western Australia since the last time that Labor was in office; that is, the Holiday Inn at Burswood. It has 300 rooms. Where was the opposition spokesperson for tourism? He was in Bali while that event was going on. What are we doing to address - Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Why don’t you tell somebody who cares? What a weak effort you are putting in. If you were a decent Minister for Tourism, people would want to holiday here. Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He hates it, Mr Speaker. He was over in Bali while we were opening the hotel. The question is: what are we doing to make sure that locals stay and holiday here in Western Australia? The government has put $3.25 million into regional tourism organisations. We have topped that up with $800 000 in direct marketing funds. Tonight I will travel to Busselton, where I will address the regional tourism organisations’ national conference and announcing another $720 000 for visitor centres around Western Australia. We acknowledge there is a difficulty with intrastate tourism, but we are going to do something about it.
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