Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

One thing that the members opposite should realise is that a large part of the state’s funding actually comes from federal government money that has been directed through. As part of the tourism allocations for state and territory tourism agencies, the New South Wales government, which the member raised, dropped funding by some 6.1 per cent from 2005-06 to 2006-07. In fact, not since 2002-03 have they had a higher amount of money. They pull this money out at a time when we hear state governments talking about economies falling off and about their increased debt. They do not understand that one of the greatest employers and contributors to economic benefit in this country is in fact the tourism industry. I am surprised at that. The member for Hotham over there kicked in and said—

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