CORONAVIRUS — TOURISM — INTERSTATE
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
435. Mrs A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I refer to data from the Tourism
Council of Western Australia that 34 per cent of tourism businesses have stated
that they do not believe they are viable with interstate travel restrictions.
What is the government doing to help these businesses?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
As I said earlier, we are obviously
very sympathetic to businesses across the state. We have launched the $14.5 million
fund to provide support to tourism-related businesses, with two categories—one
for those businesses registered or accredited with a relevant regional tourism
organisation, and a bigger funding package for large tourism businesses, which
any business can apply for. Clearly, most tourism businesses are hospitality
businesses, and we have allowed for more patrons, guests and people to be
seated and to visit these businesses than has any other state in Australia, by
multiples. That is clearly a benefit to tourism businesses across the state.
The other day I was at the IGA in Roleystone. I had a great visit to Roleystone
and I intend to go back there many times. The people at the IGA were very
appreciative of the fact that this government has worked cooperatively with the
Western Australian community to keep the coronavirus out of Western Australia.
That is an enormous benefit to industry and small business across Western Australia,
and we intend to continue to take measures on health advice to protect the
health and welfare of the people of this state.