Page 3264 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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In addition to the capital works program, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to comment upon some of the moneys that will be spent in other areas within my portfolio responsibilities. I am very pleased to say that the Government has continued its support for tourism marketing in this year's budget. At a time when, as we all know, the budget is tight, the Government has maintained its commitment to promoting the ACT by providing a budget of $4.65m to the ACT Tourism Commission which is, I might add, Mr Deputy Speaker, an increase of some $700,000 over funds provided last year. This includes funding for a computer booking management system for the commission. The increased budget will enable the commission to continue to undertake innovative and aggressive marketing campaigns on Canberra and the region.
I might add that I am delighted with the achievements of the newly established tourism commission in working with the local industry to encourage visitors to come to Canberra. Tourism is the ACT's largest private sector industry, contributing some $500m to the ACT economy annually and employing some 10,000 people. Tourism spending has significant flow-on effects to many other areas of the local economy and has strong term growth potential. So, as I said, in light of that, I am pleased to say that the funding for tourism has increased in this year's budget. In addition, some $0.276m will be provided from that budget to the Canberra Visitor and Convention Bureau which will assume responsibility for marketing Canberra as a convention and meetings destination from 14 September this year, while the Tourism Commission will continue to promote Canberra as a tourist destination.
So, within my portfolio area of the Department of Urban Services a range of initiatives have been announced as part of the 1990-91 budget. As well as being consistent with the Government's aims of providing efficient and effective services to the community, these initiatives reinforce government policies in the areas of recycling, transport safety, maintenance of roads and buildings and asbestos removal, et cetera.
In terms of recycling, the Government has begun the process of implementing its response to the waste management inquiry with the allocation of $300,000 for a range of initiatives during the current financial year. These funds will be used for a promotional campaign for recycling and composting, investigation of the potential for harnessing methane from the two land fill sites, studies into the effectiveness of measures taken to ensure waste minimisation and the appointment of a recycling officer to coordinate recycling in the ACT. In addition, a major expansion of the static collection centres for plastic and glass is being undertaken as well as an extension of the current cash for cans network.
The Government recently announced the introduction of the Clinical Waste Act which will ensure that the safety of
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