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.