Page 278 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 May 1989
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seek incentives and assistance for the establishment of low-cost accommodation to meet the shortfall noted by the NCDC report.
We cannot expect a massive input of funds, but maybe the Federal Government would be prepared to allow some of the $22m it so dishonestly locked up at the Premiers Conference for this sort of program. After all, it could be justified on the basis that it was providing some assistance in improving the potential for the ACT to stand on its own two feet.
At this juncture, Mr Speaker, I would like to turn briefly to the management of our tourist industry. During the campaign, we said that we would seek the establishment of a tourist commission with a tourist commissioner appointed on a five-year contract, after he or she had provided the selection panel with an innovative marketing strategy and budget. On reflection, we believe that this proposal should be expanded somewhat. I acknowledge the suggestion by my colleague from the Liberal Party, Mrs Nolan, that a tourist commission should be appointed with representatives from the tourist industry and commerce to take our tourist industry into the 1990s.
However, we see no reason why the full-time manager of the commission, provided that he or she is given an appropriate budget, should not be appointed in much the same way as we had already proposed - that is, convince the Government and the commission that they had the necessary flair and imagination for the appointment, or a shape up or ship out contract or, to put it another way, perform or perish. Not only would our new commission need the support of Government by way of resources but also it must have the support of the industry.
MR SPEAKER: The member's time has expired.
DR KINLOCH (11.14): I would like to congratulate the Deputy Chief Minister on many of the initiatives that he has taken in this area. I am sure everyone in this Assembly understands that tourism - the visitor industry and the convention industry - is very important indeed for the future of this city, as my colleague in the Residents Rally, Mr Jensen, has already indicated. So we support the overall thrust towards expanded tourism, in both the public sector and the private sector - no question about it at all.
We especially welcome the commitment to the economy, to more jobs and, if I may quote the Chief Minister, to meaningful jobs. There is no doubt at all that, as with Mr Jensen and so with me, we would like to be involved with the tourist industry. Whatever bodies are set up on the initiative of the Chief Minister, please regard us as being absolutely behind that matter.
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