Fight is on for tourism stakes in Abbott Budget

The Abbott government has been urged to “get serious” about tourism ahead of revealing what’s in store for the sector in next week’s Budget.

Shadow Minister for infrastructure and transport, Anthony Albanese has called for the government to “provide a real increase” for tourism promotion and “make up for the cuts they tried to conceal in last year’s Budget” in order to trigger jobs growth in the sector.

According to Albanese, Budget Trade Minister Andrew Robb “sought to mislead Australians and the tourism sector about the nature of his Budget,” by saying he “managed to preserve and slightly increase” funding for Tourism Australia with a record of over $143 million.

Albanese argues new analysis by the Parliamentary Library shows cuts of nearly $5 million in real terms in 2014-15, equivalent to 3% of the agency’s total budget.

“With new research by the Parliamentary Library concluding that Abbott cut tourism funding by $5 million in last year’s Budget, he should get serious and provide a real increase,” Albanese said in a statement.

Albanese said the Budget should include funds to reinstate the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ long-running Survey of Tourist Accommodation, saying it was a “critical tool for investors, business and governments”.

He also called for funding to promote Australia Week in China in 2015, to bring it in line with the annual G’Day USA trade fair, to reflect “China’s importance as our fastest growing and most important source of overseas visitors”.

Tourism Accommodation Australia recent statistics showed a $16 return for every $1 invested in international marketing.

“At a time when reduced commodity prices are reducing resource sector earnings, the Government should target tourism growth as a way to create jobs,” Albanese said.
“It is time for the government to get behind Australian jobs and business, but we know this Budget is all about saving Tony Abbott’s job, not about Australia’s future.”

Amongst a number of initiatives, Albanese has urged the government to restore tourism grants funding for regional tourism businesses, provide operators with access to the small business advice program, and appoint a Minister for Tourism.

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Latest comments

sting says:
May 6, 2015 at 12:38 pm
….how dare you mr albanese to say the budget was all about saving mr abbott’s job… excuse me, if the pm wished to save his job he wouldn’t be cutting budget left and right, but instead providing people with more funds to make them vote for him again… the truth is, this government has taken a path so perilous to their existence in the next election just to install a sustainable budget for australia which in the long term will be good for everyone else…. the present government is more visionary than the myopic opposition… please mr albanese stop misleading the public just to get their votes….
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