Bob Kucera

Bob Kucera

Former Minister for Disability Services; Sport and Recreation; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; Seniors

    Western Australia loses out in Federal tourism budget

    13/05/2004 6:15 AM
     
    13/5/04

    Tourism Minister Bob Kucera gave this week’s Federal tourism budget 0 out of 10 because it simply rehashed a six-month-old announcement.

    The Prime Minister announced an additional $235million for national tourism in November last year when he unveiled the Tourism White Paper.

    “Six months later and we are yet to see a single dollar and it is announced in the Budget as if it is new,” Mr Kucera said.

    “I am especially disappointed to see Western Australia is the only State not to receive specific funding for icon tourist developments.”

    Other States had been given:
    • $272million to help stage the Melbourne Commonwealth Games;
    • $30million for the Great Barrier Reef;
    • $43million to take cars across the Bass Strait to Tasmania;
    • $10million to upgrade facilities at the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit in NSW;
    • $2million for concessions for Commonwealth Seniors' Health Card holders to travel on The Ghan railway; and
    • $3million for stabilisation and refurbishment of Kingston Pier, Norfolk Island.
    “WA gets no specific funding, the Federal Budget re-announces an old initiative and we still have no details on how to access any of the White Paper money,” Mr Kucera said.

    He said the Federal Government was stifling the WA tourism industry by refusing it access to the additional funding.

    Minister's office: 9213 7000