Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
2:57 pm
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Can the minister provide an update on the condition of the tourism sector and tourism jobs?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Polley, an excellent senator from the great state of Tasmania; she always asks very good questions.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Handouts, handouts.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
You can talk about handouts, Senator McKenzie!
Sue Lines President
Senator Farrell, address your comments to the chair and not across the chamber.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
My apologies, President; I will direct the answer to you. The tourism sector has suffered terribly over the last 2½ years, and, I regret to say, a lot of that suffering was brought about and exacerbated by the actions of the former government. Just one example: right when closures and outbreaks were underway, in a whole range of key tourist areas, what did this former government do? It took away JobKeeper. Now, JobKeeper—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
No, you should have spent better! You should have—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Minister, please resume your seat. When there's silence, I will go to Senator Henderson who's on her feet. Senator Henderson.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications
I would just ask the minister to direct his comments through the chair.
Sue Lines President
I would also ask senators, particularly those on my left, to give the minister the respect to which he is entitled and to listen quietly. Minister, please direct your comments through the chair.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, President, and I was directing my comments to you following your earlier exhortation. Maybe you could have saved some money by not spending $5.5 billion on submarines that never, ever got built. But, getting back to the topic—
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Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
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Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order! You've got one of your own senators on their feet. Wait for the call, Senator Henderson. Senator Henderson.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications
The ministers are on their training wheels, but I would again remind them to direct their comments through you.
Sue Lines President
The minister was doing that. There is a lot of noise on the left-hand side of the chamber. Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I've continued to direct all of my comments to you, President, just to be clear about that. Throughout this period, these tourism operators held on to their businesses, sometimes by—
An opposition senator interjecting
Sue Lines President
I beg your pardon. It's time, Senator Farrell. Senator Polley, a first supplementary?
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
3:01 pm
It's been nine long years since I've asked a question that a minister has been able to answer. How has this workforce and skills shortage led to challenges for tourism businesses and higher costs for consumers?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Polley for, once again, an excellent question.
I like all my colleagues, unlike you, Senator Birmingham.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
It's going to be a fun question time tomorrow, I can tell you that. Businesses were forced to let go of staff, and they've struggled to get them back. Why is that? Unfortunately throughout this period, people who really liked working in the tourism sector suddenly found that their employment was no longer secure. Every time there was a lockdown, they lost their job. So, when the labour shortages occurred in other parts of the economy, of course, what was the— (Time expired)
Helen Polley Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
3:02 pm
What steps is the Albanese Labor government taking to address the mess left by the former government?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Another excellent question from Senator Polley—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
I am looking for the answer—along with Senator Polley—to her last two questions, but my point of order is: having listened very carefully to Senator Polley's supplementary, I don't know how it's related to her first question on Tasmanian tourism.
Sue Lines President
I believe it's relevant. I will just double-check with the Clerk. I am advised that it is relevant, as long as Senator Farrell restricts his comments to the tourism area, which he actually has been doing. Minister.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Look, I know you don't like hearing these answers, but I've got 49 seconds to do it. The Labor Party is committed to working with the tourism sector to address these skills shortages. The Albanese government will put real money on the table to support the industry, including money—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Yes, promises that we took to the last election to support this industry which you failed to do for the previous—
Sue Lines President
Please resume your seat, Minister Farrell. Senator Henderson.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications
Madam President, you didn't fail to do anything. I would again ask the minister to make his comments through the chair and to be mindful of the error that he's making continually.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Henderson. The minister is making his comments through the chair. There is a fair amount of joking going back and forward across the chamber. I believe, generally, the minister is making his comments through the chair, and I would invite him to continue his remarks.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, Madam President, for that protection. We're prioritising the backlog of migrant working visas to increase labour supply. We're opening up, as Minister Wong previously said, new fee-free TAFE places to skill up works, which will include 45,000 places across— (Time expired)
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I'm tempted, President, to move an extension of time, but I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper and wish everyone well for the question time I won't be at tomorrow.