reprinted from: Australian Financial Review
Longer wait for tourism blueprint
By Lisa Allen with Sam
Strutt The Federal Government is believed to be reconsidering plans for a new tourism levy to fund a range of initiatives for the $71 billion sector after a backlash from the embattled industry. Senior tourism officials said the government's original proposal for a levy on flights ora hotel bed tax was not politically viable in the current environment. "It's been rumoured the government went to great lengths developing concepts for an extensive marketing campaign," one source said. "But divisions are understood to have occurred in the government as to how many of the proposed initiatives in the 10-year guidelines might be funded." One industry source said the proposals had been watered down, but another tourism official said a levy could still be on the government's agenda. While the threat of an added impost on the industry appears to have eased, tourism leaders have reacted angrily to news that the government has delayed the release of its long-awaited 10-year tourism plan until next year. The Federal Opposition and several industry sources are blaming squabbling between Tourism ministers Ian Macfarlane and Joe Hockey. Tourism Task Force chief executive Christopher Brown warned that the tourism industry would react "violently" if its expectations, raised by the government, were not met with the delivery of the white paper next year. "If there is a revenue measure, we want the least harmful measure we will need to make sure it's all for new programs, and that it has some industry reference. We don't want ongoing taxes forever," he said. Mr Brown said the tourism industry was frustrated by the delays because jobs were on the line and investments were under threat. "We need to see an articulated response we responded in the comprehensive and timely fashion the government asked of us," he said. The policy paper, which had been due in October, is now not expected until February or March. Queensland Tourism Minister Merri Rose said there was no excuse for the delay. "The industry needs an urgent injection of confidence rather than petty political bullying by federal government ministers," she said. NSW Tourism Minister Sandra Nori said the tourism industry needed leadership from Canberra during challenging times. "The NSW government recognises that industries like tourism help build our regional economies and create jobs. Joe Hockey has been talking the industry down and it's time for him to do something positive and provide direction for the industry." The federal government has dismissed claims
of a delay of the plan's release, saying it will be released at the
appropriate time. |