❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Tourism about a significant increase in marketing representation services costs in New Zealand. The Minister defends the spending, highlighting the challenges and successes of WA tourism during border closures and preparations for reopening.
AnsweredQoN 856Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM WESTERN AUSTRALIA
— INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
856. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Tourism:
I note that the cost of marketing
representation services in New Zealand has ballooned from $2.2 million in 2016
to a whopping $4.8 million in 2021.
(1) Will the
minister commit to releasing the outcomes of the projects achieved under the
previous contract before the year ends?
(2) How can the
minister justify such as exorbitant increase in taxpayer spending, and what are
the KPIs for this contract?
— INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
856. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Tourism:
I note that the cost of marketing
representation services in New Zealand has ballooned from $2.2 million in 2016
to a whopping $4.8 million in 2021.
(1) Will the
minister commit to releasing the outcomes of the projects achieved under the
previous contract before the year ends?
(2) How can the
minister justify such as exorbitant increase in taxpayer spending, and what are
the KPIs for this contract?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. The member does not understand how well
tourism is doing in Western Australia. He has no understanding of that at all.
In comparison to other places, the reality —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! The
question is to the Minister for Tourism, who I understand is directing his
remarks towards me.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Sorry,
Madam Speaker. It is the last day!
The
reality is that we have been operating under some very interesting
circumstances with regard to tourism, particularly international
tourism. In many respects, international visitation to Western Australia has
been almost zero because of the closed borders. We know that we have had those
spectacular outcomes, as I highlighted in my answer to the brilliant question
from the member for Warren–Blackwood about the intrastate figures. The
figures are remarkable. We should be very proud of those figures.
In terms of international
comparisons and the international effort, one of the things that we need to
keep doing as we prepare to reopen to
international markets is warming—that is the term used—those
markets to ensure that we are ready
to reinstate those connections when it is safe to do so. When it is safe to do
so, we will, of course, have international visitation requirements, as
highlighted by the Prime Minister. We will be ready to welcome international
visitors. Whether it is Tourism WA or,
indeed, some private tourism entities in Western Australia, we will continue to
ensure that international markets are reminded of the opportunities in Western
Australia, and that will continue into the new year. The government and I, as
tourism minister, will make sure that not only are we ready to welcome back
visitors from interstate and overseas, but also the palette of experiences on
offer will be exceptional.
I am very proud of the way that the
tourism industry and the tourism sector across Western Australia have worked
very, very hard. Many businesses have had to pivot because their traditional
visitors were from international or interstate populations. Again, the sad
thing is that the member does not understand—indeed, he does not
support—the vibrancy of our tourism industry. All he does is criticise.
That is a pattern of behaviour that has become innate for him. It is sad. One
wonders what he does in the mornings!
Mr V.A. Catania : I think
about you! I think about the question I'm going to ask you.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I hope
the member does not think about me. That is actually quite a disturbing
revelation!
I am confident that we will be in a
very good position to welcome back guests—international visitors and
interstate visitors. I hope that the figures that have shown how strong the
intrastate figures are will be an indicator of what I believe will be a bright
future for the tourism sector in Western Australia.
thank the member for the question. The member does not understand how well
tourism is doing in Western Australia. He has no understanding of that at all.
In comparison to other places, the reality —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! The
question is to the Minister for Tourism, who I understand is directing his
remarks towards me.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Sorry,
Madam Speaker. It is the last day!
The
reality is that we have been operating under some very interesting
circumstances with regard to tourism, particularly international
tourism. In many respects, international visitation to Western Australia has
been almost zero because of the closed borders. We know that we have had those
spectacular outcomes, as I highlighted in my answer to the brilliant question
from the member for Warren–Blackwood about the intrastate figures. The
figures are remarkable. We should be very proud of those figures.
In terms of international
comparisons and the international effort, one of the things that we need to
keep doing as we prepare to reopen to
international markets is warming—that is the term used—those
markets to ensure that we are ready
to reinstate those connections when it is safe to do so. When it is safe to do
so, we will, of course, have international visitation requirements, as
highlighted by the Prime Minister. We will be ready to welcome international
visitors. Whether it is Tourism WA or,
indeed, some private tourism entities in Western Australia, we will continue to
ensure that international markets are reminded of the opportunities in Western
Australia, and that will continue into the new year. The government and I, as
tourism minister, will make sure that not only are we ready to welcome back
visitors from interstate and overseas, but also the palette of experiences on
offer will be exceptional.
I am very proud of the way that the
tourism industry and the tourism sector across Western Australia have worked
very, very hard. Many businesses have had to pivot because their traditional
visitors were from international or interstate populations. Again, the sad
thing is that the member does not understand—indeed, he does not
support—the vibrancy of our tourism industry. All he does is criticise.
That is a pattern of behaviour that has become innate for him. It is sad. One
wonders what he does in the mornings!
Mr V.A. Catania : I think
about you! I think about the question I'm going to ask you.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I hope
the member does not think about me. That is actually quite a disturbing
revelation!
I am confident that we will be in a
very good position to welcome back guests—international visitors and
interstate visitors. I hope that the figures that have shown how strong the
intrastate figures are will be an indicator of what I believe will be a bright
future for the tourism sector in Western Australia.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.