Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

It is about time the member for Moncrieff stopped talking down the Australian tourism industry and stopped talking about a crisis. It is also about time members on the other side of the House joined with members such as the member for Dawson, the member for Lyons, the member for Leichhardt, members on the Central Coast and members in Wollongong and Newcastle—key tourism areas—and supported this package. Perhaps the members for Wide Bay, Herbert, Kalgoorlie, Flinders and Forrest, for example, should start thinking about key tourism areas such as Noosa, Townsville, Broome, Mornington Peninsula and Margaret River and join with the member for McEwen, because she understands the importance of tourism to the Yarra Valley. If when they return to their electorates this weekend they go and put their feet under the table of a local restaurant or cafe, they should think about what Peter Doyle, the President of the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association, and John Hart, its CEO, said in a media release on Tuesday of this week:

The stimulus package also contained a number of cash payments that will see their way into the hands of restaurant consumers.

They went on to say:

… consumers now spend nearly 10% of their household income on meals out (on average) and these additional payments, which will come just prior to the next school holidays, will be spent in restaurants and cafes.

But perhaps more importantly—because this debate is about the national interest and keeping Australians in employment—they concluded with this remark:

The hospitality industry is a very labour intensive industry. Spending in restaurants is a very efficient way to create or maintain employment.

I leave the opposition with that thought. Back a winner—back the national interest, not the opportunism of the Leader of the Opposition.

See this speech in context