SOUTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA REGIONAL TOURISM INITIATIVE FORUM

GS03/2008
11 April 2008

Closing Address
South Western Australia Regional Tourism Initiative Forum
Friday 11 April 2008

Thank you for the warm welcome Wes, and good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Firstly, I'd like to say that I am sorry I wasn't able to join you earlier in the day - I can see from the program that you have covered a lot of ground.

It is pleasing to see the breadth of knowledge you have been able to tap into. You have heard from speakers from academia, from research organisations, from industry bodies, from the local community and colleagues from South Australia and Victoria who have shared their experiences in the regional tourism industry.

Congratulations on your initiative in bringing this industry forum together.

The Rudd Government is a firm believer in the value and contribution of the tourism industry. That is why the Prime Minister decided to elevate the tourism portfolio responsibility into cabinet, giving it the recognition it deserves.

According to a report by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre, there are 50,000 tourism operators in Australia. These operations are often family run small businesses, courageously operating in a tough, competitive and truly global market. Their initiative and achievements cannot be overlooked.

The Rudd Government understands the pressure small businesses are under. Labor is committed to rewarding effort and entrepreneurship, acknowledging that small business operators take substantial risks in going out on their own.

The future success of small business will be built on hard work, ingenuity and talent.

The Rudd Government will pursue macroeconomic policies supporting strong growth and low inflation. Tourism is an industry that will contribute to and benefit from this sort of fiscal environment.

The Rudd Government will remove unnecessary impediments to business success and strengthen the capacity of small businesses to compete in tough and international markets.

Recent statistics show that Australian tourism contributes more than $38 billion to our GDP and employs more than 465,000 people. 46% of this $38 billion figure, is spent in regional Australia and is a key driver of regional growth.

Tourism in Australia provides more jobs than our traditional mainstays of agriculture, forestry and fishing combined. At a time when global economic uncertainty is casting a shadow over our prosperity, these jobs provide certainty not only to our national economy but to the budgets of working families.

Driving down this afternoon from my electorate office in Rockingham, I reflected on how lucky I was to live so close to one of Australia's most unique and beautiful regions.

My family and I have made numerous day trips, and holidayed here many times ... and we are not alone in enjoying the experience.

Tourism Western Australia noted in December 2007, Western Australia's South West had around 1.8 million intrastate, 160,000 interstate and more than 120,000 international visitors.

As these figures indicate, tourism is a vital part of this region's economy - indeed it is a vital part of the WA economy, contributing almost $5 billion in 2007 and is expected to continue its strong growth in future years. For every 100 people employed in WA, some six are as a result of the regional tourism industry.

The Western Australian tourism industry ... like many other industries in this state ... outperforms the rest of the nation in terms of growth and sustainability. Many operators including many of you here today ... have built on individual strengths and seized new opportunities.

The development of the low cost carrier network in South East Asia has created an opportunity to target emerging tourism markets. This development has been seized by many tourism operators and already strong growth of visitors from Singapore has been recorded.

The Rudd Government is committed to ensuring that more opportunities become available for the tourism industry. In the first 100 days of Government, we signed an historic Open Skies agreement with the United States. This removed restrictions on flights between the two countries for the benefit of trade and tourism.

The Rudd Government understands the importance of product standards and that is why the Federal Tourism Minister is currently establishing a national accreditation framework. National accreditation will provide consumers with informed product choice and allow businesses to measure themselves against a nation-wide industry benchmark.

Another important aspect of tourism under a Rudd Labor Government is the role of our national marketing body, Tourism Australia or TA. A new Statement of Expectations has now been outlined highlighting the Government's priorities of indigenous tourism, business events and sustainability.

TA will also be expected to operate in a transparent and accountable manner and the organisation has the clear responsibility to effectively communicate and promote their activities to the industry and key stakeholders.

There will be many challenges for the future of Australia's tourism industry, but the Rudd Government is committed to a cooperative and cohesive approach between Government and industry.

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During the election campaign and since being elected, the Rudd Government's focus has firmly been on delivering outcomes in the key areas of economic prosperity, skills and training, the drought and climate change, workplace relations and health.

The challenges are real and they are significant but we are committed to finding solutions.

As part of our plan to strengthen the economy, the Government is offering a truly national, long-term approach to the provision of infrastructure - the fresh ideas of new leadership we promised before the election.

Australia's size, our scattered population, and our heavy reliance on export industries mean we are particularly dependent on efficient infrastructure which is well planned and adequately financed.

I am pleased to say we have already passed legislation to establish a strategic new body - Infrastructure Australia.

Infrastructure Australia will be headed by Sir Rod Eddington, who grew up and attended university in WA. Sir Rod brings formidable experience to the position. His career began in transport and aviation. He spent five years service as CEO of British Airways, and was also part of a joint commission by the UK Government to examine the long-term links between transport and the UK's economic productivity, growth and stability.

Infrastructure Australia will have 12 members drawn from industry and all levels of government.

It is significant that five of the twelve members, including the Chair, will be from the private sector, signifying the importance this Government places on private sector partnerships.

The composition of Infrastructure Australia will provide the grunt needed to deliver on Australia's infrastructure needs.

Reporting regularly to the Council of Australian Governments, -- COAG -- Infrastructure Australia will advise governments, investors, as well as the owners and users of infrastructure, on matters including:

• national infrastructure priorities;
• the policy and regulatory reforms needed to improve the efficient utilisation of national infrastructure networks;
• options to address impediments to the development of efficient national infrastructure; and
• financing mechanisms.

Importantly, Infrastructure Australia will advise on ways in which barriers to investment in nationally significant infrastructure can be removed. This will include:

• improving the delivery of projects;
• aligning infrastructure plans across all levels of government;
• harmonising guidelines, legislation and regulations across jurisdictions; and
• standardising formats in tender documents and contracts to promote best practice procurement.

Infrastructure Australia's first priority will be to conduct a national audit of Australia's infrastructure within the first year of the new Parliament.

This work will allow us to make evidence-based decisions, and allow a better matching of investment dollars with the nation's infrastructure priorities.

According to a 2004 estimate by the Australian Council for Infrastructure Development, a lack of investment in public infrastructure over many years is now costing the Australian economy some $6.4 billion a year in lost production.

Infrastructure Australia will provide advice about infrastructure gaps and bottlenecks that hinder economic growth and prosperity. It will also identify investment priorities, policy and regulatory reforms that will be necessary to enable timely and coordinated delivery of national infrastructure investment.

Infrastructure Australia will also provide advice on nationally significant infrastructure, including transport, energy, communications and water infrastructure where further investment will improve national productivity.

Infrastructure Australia will be an important tool for the tourism industry. Tourism operators can only benefit from considered infrastructure planning. Whether it's an international airport, the location of a highway or the long-term projection of our utility network - we cannot afford to stumble around in the dark like a blind drunk trying to find the light switch.

For the sake of Australia's future - we need a plan. A proper infrastructure scheme will be good for tourists and it will be good for the tourism industry.

But, Infrastructure Australia is only part of our commitment to communities across the length and breadth of our country.

A key component of the Government's vision for our regions is the creation of Regional Development Australia - or RDA.

RDA will ensure that the concerns of regional communities are heard in Canberra. RDA will build on the Area Consultative Committee or ACC network to provide a mechanism for greater synergy across all levels of government.

An initial step in this process is the transition of ACCs to become local RDA Committees.

The ACC Network was established by the Keating Labor Government in 1994 under the Employment Services Act. ACCs originally provided advice and generated support for labour market programs.

Over time, the role of ACCs changed and focused more on identifying projects for the former Government's Regional Partnerships program.

There are 54 ACCs, now RDA Committees, across Australia, which are not-for-profit, community-based organisations. I'm pleased the South West RDA is an important partner in today's forum.

Hundreds of Australians give their time to serve as members of this network. Only the Chairs and their Deputies are appointed by the Government.

Network volunteers are united by their commitment to their local communities and are a valuable source of local knowledge and advice for Government.

The new RDA network will improve the coordination of regional development initiatives and ensure effective engagement with local communities.

Our new vision for Regional Australia is based on building partnerships, so that the Government is responsive to local priorities and needs, but is underpinned by major new investments in the areas of infrastructure, broadband, housing, health care, education, skills development, innovation and water.

The message to regional communities is clear - this Government will partner with you to find workable solutions.

We understand that strong, prosperous and confident regional centres are the key to sustainable development.

We will bring fresh ideas and a new approach which will harness the potential of our regions and develop them for a better future.

Our Better Regions commitments -- announced during the election -- represent major investments in regional infrastructure including urban, community, recreational and environmental initiatives for local communities.

We will deliver around $250 million over three years for a range of projects throughout Australia.

These commitments emphasise the Government's interest in a more strategic approach to regional funding, including identifying growth corridors and providing them with support.

We are currently scoping ways of providing assistance to local communities that is incentive-based and generates innovation.

The Government has committed over $1.7 billion for projects in Western Australia, which encompasses significant road infrastructure and also investment in sporting facilities.

The Rudd Government has an ambitious agenda for investments in Regional Australia ... including here in the South West ... to foster sustainable economic growth.

Partnerships between communities, business, industry, and all levels of government will ensure that we can be responsive to local priorities and needs.

As I travel around the country, I am constantly told that labour constraints are impacting on the growth and sustainability of industries ... including tourism.

The Rudd Labor Government is pursuing a range of measures aimed at improving both the skills and the size of our labour market, including 450,000 additional training places.

Unlike our predecessors, we as a Government are fully cognisant of the need for workforce planning across industries.

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I thank you for the invitation to speak today.

I know this has been a long but productive day, and I am delighted to join you in sampling some fabulous wines and produce this wonderful region has to offer.

Thank you.