LNP takes holiday with tourism policy funding

Member for Albert Margaret Keech has condemned National Party leader Lawrence Springborg’s plan to cut a program which has helped to create 20,000 Queensland jobs, including some on the Gold Coast.

Mrs Keech said Mr Springborg has revealed he will take funding from the Queensland Investment and Incentive Scheme (QIIS) which is squarely focused on building regional Queensland business development and jobs.

“The scheme has generated more than $1.5 billion for the Queensland economy and helped to create 20,000 jobs,” Mrs Keech said.

“On the Gold Coast, this scheme has supported AirAsiaX, an international discount airline which established its base here on the Gold Coast.

“It has helped to secure more than 100 important projects and companies for Queensland – including a project in Mr Springborg’s own electorate which helped to create 168 jobs and generated $100 million in capital expenditure.

“Mr Springborg’s panicked approach to funding a National Party promise has just demonstrated how truly out of touch he is with the Queensland tourism industry.

“Without this program fewer tourists would be coming to Queensland and our economy could be put further at risk.”

The Queensland government has allocated $15 million a year for the QIIS program. Of that, $10 million has been specifically established to generate economic and employment opportunities in regional Queensland.

“This scheme is crucial to the state’s tourism industry, as it is used to attract airlines to Queensland,” Mrs Keech said.

“QIIS has supported the establishment of Virgin Blue in Brisbane, the establishment of Air Asia X on the Gold Coast, and the delivery of more Qantas, Jetstar, Etihad and Emirates flights and seats into Queensland airports – worth more than $860 million to our tourism industry.

“The Bligh Government responded to calls from regional Queensland by establishing the $10 million a year Regional QIIS program, dedicated to luring new jobs and investment to regional Queensland – this would cease under a Springborg-led National Party government.

“Mr Springborg’s plan to cut this program – which supports our tourism industry – to divert funds back to the tourism industry makes no policy sense.

“These projects created total capital expenditure of around $720 million to date.

“Growth in our 15 key industries – including ICT/Gaming industry, manufacturing, aviation and marine would be destroyed – and opportunities for future job creation will be lost.”

Examples of QIIS:

·Transpacific Industries Group Ltd - awarded an incentive to relocate and consolidate its integrated cleaning and total waste management manufacturing equipment division to Bundaberg. Project is expected to create 136 new jobs.

·Woolworths Ltd - completed a project for its warehouse and distribution facilities at Warwick. Has created 168 regional full-time equivalent jobs, 68 above the milestone requirement and has also retained 162 full-time equivalent jobs, whilst generating $100 million in capital expenditure.

·Big Ant Studios - the Bligh Government brokered a deal that will help generate more than 80 jobs and millions of dollars in economic opportunities, by attracting one of Australia's biggest video game developers to establish a Sunshine Coast office.

·
Primo Smallgoods - the company will build a $70 million state-of-the-art 18,000 square metre plant at Wacol in Brisbane to house its smallgoods manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities creating around 425 new jobs.

·AirAsiaX - this international discount airline established its Australian base on the Gold Coast, supporting approximately 120,000 tourists and $48.5million for the economy.

·Jetstar – QIIS funding helped to secure direct flights from Japan to Cairns to support the local tourism industry after extensive flight cuts by the Qantas Group.

ENDS

Media Contact: Matthew Hyde: 3224 7081 0438 751 022