Industry body salutes Hames

Industry body salutes Hames
By admin


The Tourism Council of Western Australia has paid tribute to departing state tourism minister Dr Kim Hames as it welcomed the state premier's decision to fill the tourism post himself as a replacement is considered.

Colin Barnett will temporarily take on tourism responsibilities formerly held by Hames who stood down on Monday after admitting to wrongly claiming more than $1,000 in expenses.

The council's chief executive, Evan Hall, listed Hames' achievements as a $6 million per annum tourism funding boost, establishment of the Hotel Incentive Policy and development of new air services among others.

"A good tourism minister understands that 90,000 jobs depend on how many visitors turn up in WA each year," TCWA chief executive Evan Hall said.

"Minister Hames understood that tourism is about economic development, jobs and businesses across the state."

The industry body stressed it is a critical time for tourism with the slowdown of the mining sector and the weakening of the Australian dollar and called for the "good work" so far undertaken by the government to be continued without interruption.

It will now work closely with Barnett to implement Hames' election commitment of additional funding of $6 million per annum for tourism.

"This funding is crucial to attracting visitors and keeping tourism businesses and jobs growing across WA as mining tapers off," Hall added. 

Hames said on Monday: "The premier takes these issues very seriously and we've seen that in the past. I think he's made a judgement that is in the best interests of the government and the people of Western Australia."

He retains his positions as deputy premier and health minister.

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