Ms CARNEY - 2002-08-21
My question relates to the announcement of an extra $500 000 to be provided to the Tourist Commission for advertising in overseas markets. Minister, will you confirm that the $500 000 replaces what was cut from the overseas marketing activity last year in order to increase marketing domestically and that, together with the reduction in the exchange rate and purchasing capacity of the Australian dollar in the US, Japan, Europe and the UK, funding has, in fact, decreased in the international marketing budget. How do you explain this was an increase?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the bottom line with this increase is that we have, in the international marketing budget, a 10% increase on the last budget that the member for Katherine brought down from their side - a 10% increase.
In terms of replacing money that was taken out of the international sector: yes, last year, in response to 11 September and the Ansett collapse, we did, very strategically, take money, particularly out of the American marketing budget, and put into the drive market. The return on that investment, that tactical switch, has been absolutely significant. If the shadow minister for tourism has been travelling up and down the track, she would see that the caravan parks have had a record season this year. When I was in Katherine recently, you could hardly get down the main street for caravans, campervans, interstate number-plated cars up and down the main street. Tennant Creek has had a very strong year as well.
We have managed to maintain an influx of tourists here this year. What we were potentially looking at post 11 September and the Ansett collapse, was an absolute decimation of the tourism industry in the Northern Territory, and we have not had that. That, to a large part, has been thanks to the fortitude of the industry here; the industry operators who got their shoulder to the wheel and went to those east coast shows, and the fact that we switched some of the marketing budget. However, I can say that money that was switched last year has been replaced. The $500 000 is new money on top of the money from the previous budget. It is new money, and I do not know why the shadow minister cannot see that. We are investing and that investment will leverage a $12m return to the industry in the Northern Territory.
Regarding the exchange rate, it is an interesting point, because those exchange rates have been a significant issue going back to 1996-97, when we started to see the decline in value of the Australian dollar. We have put that money back in, it is a 10% increase on the previous CLP budget. It has been widely commended by people in the tourism sector. The only people who are talking it down are those opposite.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the bottom line with this increase is that we have, in the international marketing budget, a 10% increase on the last budget that the member for Katherine brought down from their side - a 10% increase.
In terms of replacing money that was taken out of the international sector: yes, last year, in response to 11 September and the Ansett collapse, we did, very strategically, take money, particularly out of the American marketing budget, and put into the drive market. The return on that investment, that tactical switch, has been absolutely significant. If the shadow minister for tourism has been travelling up and down the track, she would see that the caravan parks have had a record season this year. When I was in Katherine recently, you could hardly get down the main street for caravans, campervans, interstate number-plated cars up and down the main street. Tennant Creek has had a very strong year as well.
We have managed to maintain an influx of tourists here this year. What we were potentially looking at post 11 September and the Ansett collapse, was an absolute decimation of the tourism industry in the Northern Territory, and we have not had that. That, to a large part, has been thanks to the fortitude of the industry here; the industry operators who got their shoulder to the wheel and went to those east coast shows, and the fact that we switched some of the marketing budget. However, I can say that money that was switched last year has been replaced. The $500 000 is new money on top of the money from the previous budget. It is new money, and I do not know why the shadow minister cannot see that. We are investing and that investment will leverage a $12m return to the industry in the Northern Territory.
Regarding the exchange rate, it is an interesting point, because those exchange rates have been a significant issue going back to 1996-97, when we started to see the decline in value of the Australian dollar. We have put that money back in, it is a 10% increase on the previous CLP budget. It has been widely commended by people in the tourism sector. The only people who are talking it down are those opposite.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016