Ms LEE - 2012-10-30
Can you outline to the House why tourism is one of three hubs of our economy and whether the previous government invested as it should have in that part of the economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Arnhem. It is great to see members on this side of the House showing some interest in tourism. We will continue to show strong interest in tourism. We are about 45 minutes into Question Time and we are yet to see any interest from the other side of the House, particularly from the shadow tourism minister. He has regurgitated one speech twice in this House. He has not asked a single question, and has had a three-minute briefing on the new tourism bill in my office.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very direct. I call the minister on relevance. He is being asked a very easy question. It is a dxixer from his side. Could he cease the rant and get on with the answer?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you come to the point.
Mr CONLAN: There is no rant; it is setting up the answer. It needs to be put into context - made very clear just how important we value tourism in the Northern Territory.
It is remarkable too. The Territory’s unique positioning has also been recognised in the new Commonwealth White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century. Even the Commonwealth is recognising how important tourism is to the Northern Territory.
Mr Giles: Labor does not!
Mr CONLAN: Of course, it does not. As you mentioned, member for Braitling, the shadow minister plagiarised himself in this House last week by regurgitating the same speech.
Before I expand on the importance of the federal government report - it is great to see a federal Labor government showing some interest in tourism. I would like to expand on this government’s vision for our three-hub economy.
It is an economy focusing on three acknowledged and inherent strengths. We have talked much about that in this House and throughout the election campaign. We are guaranteeing good, long-term, high-paying and rewarding jobs in tourism with education, mining, energy and food exports also forming part of that three-hub economy.
The growth areas for tomorrow will appeal to our Asian neighbours. It is very important to engage Asia. We once were the envy of other Australian jurisdictions in our engagement with Asia and that has been completely lost. We have seen that through the disrespect Asia now has for the Northern Territory, certainly Southeast Asia, because of the lack of engagement shown by the former government, particularly, the former Minister for Tourism and the former minister for Sport.
Tourism, as we know, is an estimated $1.4bn injection into the Northern Territory economy. It deserves to be taken seriously, and this government will take it seriously. It will outline throughout the next few days of this parliamentary sitting just how important tourism is and what this government intends to do to bring it back to where it should be.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Arnhem. It is great to see members on this side of the House showing some interest in tourism. We will continue to show strong interest in tourism. We are about 45 minutes into Question Time and we are yet to see any interest from the other side of the House, particularly from the shadow tourism minister. He has regurgitated one speech twice in this House. He has not asked a single question, and has had a three-minute briefing on the new tourism bill in my office.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very direct. I call the minister on relevance. He is being asked a very easy question. It is a dxixer from his side. Could he cease the rant and get on with the answer?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you come to the point.
Mr CONLAN: There is no rant; it is setting up the answer. It needs to be put into context - made very clear just how important we value tourism in the Northern Territory.
It is remarkable too. The Territory’s unique positioning has also been recognised in the new Commonwealth White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century. Even the Commonwealth is recognising how important tourism is to the Northern Territory.
Mr Giles: Labor does not!
Mr CONLAN: Of course, it does not. As you mentioned, member for Braitling, the shadow minister plagiarised himself in this House last week by regurgitating the same speech.
Before I expand on the importance of the federal government report - it is great to see a federal Labor government showing some interest in tourism. I would like to expand on this government’s vision for our three-hub economy.
It is an economy focusing on three acknowledged and inherent strengths. We have talked much about that in this House and throughout the election campaign. We are guaranteeing good, long-term, high-paying and rewarding jobs in tourism with education, mining, energy and food exports also forming part of that three-hub economy.
The growth areas for tomorrow will appeal to our Asian neighbours. It is very important to engage Asia. We once were the envy of other Australian jurisdictions in our engagement with Asia and that has been completely lost. We have seen that through the disrespect Asia now has for the Northern Territory, certainly Southeast Asia, because of the lack of engagement shown by the former government, particularly, the former Minister for Tourism and the former minister for Sport.
Tourism, as we know, is an estimated $1.4bn injection into the Northern Territory economy. It deserves to be taken seriously, and this government will take it seriously. It will outline throughout the next few days of this parliamentary sitting just how important tourism is and what this government intends to do to bring it back to where it should be.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016