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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 399 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 12 August 2021 by Mr V.A. Catania

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — TOURISM

399. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Tourism:

I refer to the latest report by Tourism Western Australia, Visitation to Western Australia: Overview: Year ending March 2021, which shows that WA tourism has lost $3.3 million and declined by 39 per cent since the onset of COVID-19. The recent business survey conducted by Tourism Council WA reveals that almost one in three tourism businesses has reported they will run out of cash reserves in six months and face closure due to COVID-19-related restrictions both here in WA and interstate.

Will the government provide further relief this financial year from fees collected from tourism-related businesses that are significantly impacted by these restrictions; and, if not, why not?

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Sorry; I have not given you the call yet, Minister for Tourism. I was just waiting for the other people who wanted to answer the question to be quiet.

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied:

I thank the member for the question. Our government has great sympathy for any businesses that are affected by COVID-19, but where else would you rather be in Australia than in Western Australia? The simple fact is this: the sad failures that we see over on the eastern seaboard, particularly in New South Wales, are a stark example of what happens when we do not act swiftly and respond quickly, as this government has consistently done since the COVID-19 situation faced the nation.

It is interesting to see that we now have the most robust economy in Australia. Consumer confidence is at some of its highest levels ever and unemployment rates in this state are again low, unlike other parts of the nation. Because of the strong border policy of this government and this Premier, Western Australians are able to move throughout the state and experience the magnificent tourism opportunities and tourism offers of the state. They have done that in their thousands. Western Australians are travelling more and more since the Wander Out Yonder campaign was launched last year. Western Australians are exploring places that many of them have never been to. A number of businesses, be they accommodation providers or tourism experiences, have seen numbers unlike any other in the past. We know that when borders have to be closed, of course that impacts on inbound visitors from the eastern states. We recognise that. One of the places particularly impacted by that, as the member may be aware, is indeed Perth city itself. Hotels in Perth, particularly midweek, have been impacted.

This government has responded consistently—talking to the industry, talking to the sector and responding when necessary. This government has put in place a range of initiatives and responded to assist and support when there are troughs in some parts of the market. But goodness gracious me—look across the border. Look at New South Wales. Tourism operators in New South Wales cannot do anything. They cannot do anything at all—nothing—yet we know that in Western Australia there are businesses that are doing well and those that are not have been supported by campaigns. There are campaigns in the north west supporting air ticket subsidies and campaigns for experience subsidies in the Kimberley. The Relook and Book campaign was launched specifically to backfill accommodation cancellations from the eastern seaboard. The government is responding consistently to these things and we will keep on doing that. The government launched a campaign to ensure that people are reminded that Kalbarri is now open for business. There is also a campaign to support people and allow subsidies for experiences there.

The government is responding consistently to the market. But remember this: we are in the best position of any other state and territory in Australia. It gives us an opportunity to sell the state to our own population as we are doing, and they are responding in their hundreds of thousands and getting out into areas. It also allows us to ensure that when we are able to open the borders safely to interstate, and then international, visitation, we will be a destination for many of those people because they know we have a whole suite of experiences—landscapes and cultural and arts experiences—to share with the rest of the world when we are able to open.

The problem with the member for North West Central is that he keeps talking down the state. The member keeps talking down the state and that is what he and his dwindled members on the other side consistently do. This state is the safest in the nation and one of the safest places in the world. We will keep not only honing our story for when we can welcome visitors from the eastern states and overseas, but also encouraging Western Australians to travel within their own state. They are doing that. I want them to purchase experiences while they are in those places so that they support the tourism industry going forward. You keep talking down the state. I tell you what: it does you a great disservice and it certainly does not instil confidence in people who need confidence in how well Western Australia is doing.