LNP plan to cut tourism budget in half
Published Sunday, 21 June, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones
LNP budget figures reveal the former government had cut the tourism budget in half.
Speaking in Melbourne at the Australian Tourism Exchange, Minister for Tourism Kate Jones said budget figures show that under the LNP, funding for Tourism and Events Queensland dropped by 50%, down from approximately $100 million per year to less than $50 million in 2019.
“We always knew the LNP cut funding to Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and these budget figures reveal the situation is far worse than we anticipated.
“The LNP’s forward estimates reveal the previous Minister Jann Stuckey had cut $188 million from TEQ over four years which would rip funding from major events, marketing campaigns and Regional Tourism Operators.
“Because of the LNP’s cuts, there is a question mark over the future of every Regional Tourism Organisation and Queensland risks losing major events to other states.
“Major events such as the V8 Supercars, Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Cairns Amateur Racing Carnival, which support thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars for the Queensland economy, are all at risk.
“Today’s International Visitor Survey data shows positive growth in Queensland and confirms that now is not the time to cut tourism funding.
"TEQ and our RTOs have been working to build the sector and should be proud of the positive data but they also need support and certainty to continue to grow. Now is not the time to cut their funding.
“The data shows Queensland’s visitor numbers continue to lag behind New South Wales and Victoria and cuts will only mean we continue to lose market share to the southern states.
“The Palaszczuk Government is determined to grow tourism in our state because we know it supports more than 200,000 Queensland jobs.
“During the election campaign we committed to boosting tourism funding and I will continue to lobby my Cabinet colleagues to support the tourism industry but we are now faced with a major challenge as we approach the Budget.
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