Page 3209 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 18 November 1992
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I present the following paper:
Assembly premises - South Building - Refurbishment - Ministerial statement, 18 November 1992.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr Westende) adjourned.
TOURISM
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MADAM SPEAKER: I have received letters from Mrs Carnell, Mr Humphries, Mr Kaine and Mrs Grassby proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Mrs Grassby be submitted to the Assembly. However, members, my attention has been drawn to the fact that the matter of public importance set down for discussion today may contravene the provisions of standing order 59. Having examined the matter, I believe that this is the case, as the matter selected anticipates debate on executive business, order of the day No. 6. However, I understand that it is the wish of the Assembly to allow discussion to proceed. As that is the case, I will now read the matter proposed and call on Mrs Grassby. The matter that we are to discuss is:
The positive results for the tourism industry over the past year and the potential for the future.
MRS GRASSBY (3.14): Madam Speaker, it is with very great pleasure that I rise today to speak on this matter of public importance. The tourism industry in the Australian Capital Territory has proved to be a major producer of revenue for the people of Canberra and an excellent source of jobs for our young people. I am sure that members will be aware that in the Chief Minister's statement to the Assembly on tourism she indicated that the industry was worth in excess of $400m per year and on top of this supplied around 7,000 jobs. As the industry is now growing at 10 per cent per year, we can safely assume that an additional $1m per week is being added to our economy and 700 jobs per year are being added to our employment base.
Madam Speaker, if we look back only a year or so we see that these excellent results were not always the case. I wish to take this opportunity to compliment the industry on the way it has drawn itself together to cooperate with the Tourism Commission and the Government to achieve results which, against the national trends, can only be described as spectacular. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released recently for the June quarter show that room occupancy rates in the Territory increased by 12 percentage points, whereas the national average failed to reach an increase of one per cent.
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