Page 1095 - Week 06 - Thursday, 27 July 1989
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Employers in the tourism industry will have better trained and more efficient staff available to them - that is what this proposal means - and should be expected to contribute to the facility's development. The Government, however, should continue to seek input from the private sector - initially, at least, from the tourist industry - in terms of both expertise and finances to help defray the costs currently being borne by the Government.
Similar concerns should be expressed about the $1m to be spent on promotional activities directed at attracting more tourists to Canberra. Tourism is a highly competitive market and, at a time when the ACT Government has to compete with well organised and generously funded State tourist bureaus to sell its wares, a million dollars is quite a restrained figure to be contemplating for an advertising budget. But, again, local businesses and organisations stand to reap benefits from any influx of tourists, and the Government should be examining ways of seeking and coordinating contributions from the private sector for the full-scale promotion of Canberra.
I know the Government has some moves in that area, and I would seek to encourage it to ensure that all elements of the tourist industry participate in this promotion. They all have a vested interest in ensuring that the tourist industry and Canberra itself, which is what we are seeking to promote, are fully and effectively promoted out there in the marketplace.
New capital works scheduled for Banks, Condor and Gordon are to be welcomed as a significant contribution to the development of Canberra's southern area. I also welcome the spending planned for the Tuggeranong Valley roads and a new recycling centre for the valley. The Government has also set aside $117,000 for emergency telephones on the Tuggeranong Parkway, an obviously necessary and sensible move and one which is long overdue. I know it has always been a concern of members, particularly the female members of the Rally who live in that area, that it was not serviced. We attempted, at various times, to see that matter redressed, and it is good to see this happening. It is long overdue.
Expenditure on other services to the Tuggeranong area suggests that the Government is finally coming to terms with what the people of the valley have always known - namely, that Tuggeranong is a part of Canberra and deserves the same treatment as other areas. So I would also welcome the funds dedicated to landscaping for Pine Island, Tuggeranong College and the town centre park, as well as the Tuggeranong lakeshore development and stage 2 of the town park.
I would like also to comment briefly on this matter. It is very important, I think, that these important social community facilities be developed, because not only does it provide them close to where the homes are but it also takes
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