Shadow Minister Media Releases
NSW TOURISM STILL LEFT IN LIMBO (25/09/2008)
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Don Page today called on new Tourism Minister Jodi McKay to declare whether or not the recommendations of the O’Neill Report into Tourism will be followed.
The State Government had commissioned independent expert John O’Neill to write a report on its tourism strategy and make recommendations for the future.
On June 25, 2008, then-Minister for Tourism Matt Brown, said that “following the release of the O’Neill Report into tourism, the Iemma Government announced an additional $40million investment over three years to fund tourism growth and a NSW Tourism Strategy.”
In Question Time today, new Tourism Minister Jodi McKay was asked a question about tourism. Mr Page asked her to guarantee the $40 million in investment, but the Minister did not give the commitment.
“The State Government must indicate whether it will honour the original $40 million promise of tourism investment,” Mr Page said.
“The O’Neill Report made a number of vital recommendations after the tourism sector had been allowed to go backwards after the Olympics by State Labor.
“The O’Neill Report concluded that NSW had lost $3.5 billion in tourism revenue over the past seven years so tourism operators are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the $40 million investment to provide certainty of investment.
“This week the new Premier Nathan Rees has made a lot of noise about how he has appointed independent experts to help the government on economic matters.
“If the State Government is going to employ an expert such as John O’Neill to provide advice on tourism, then it should at least follow through with those recommendations.”
Mr Page said the future of the State Government’s much vaunted ‘Brand Sydney’ and much-needed $10.5 million investment in regional tourism is in doubt.
“Aspects of tourism policy touch on every part of the State’s economy,” he said.
“The State Government cost NSW $3.5 million in the years following the Sydney Olympics so the very least it can do now is invest in tourism. The economic benefit will be paid back in years to come,” Mr Page said.
