Shadow Minister Media Releases
NSW Labor Government Makes Tourism Bureaucrat Their Scapegoat ( 12/06/2008)
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Don Page says the NSW Government should accept responsibility for their policy failures in tourism since the Olympics and not make the former Tourism NSW CEO their scapegoat.
“While I am not surprised by Mr O’Neill’s resignation, the problems Tourism NSW have experienced over the last 8 years pre-date Mr O’Neill,” Mr Page said.
“The NSW State Government must take responsibility for the dire state of Tourism in NSW,” he said.
Specifically the Report says:
“Across a whole range of government activities, other states have been far more proactive and supportive of tourism than has New South Wales…..It is the whole-hearted commitment to support tourism (and development) through a whole of government approach that distinguishes Queensland and Victoria from New South Wales.”
“It is the NSW Labor Government who have systematically cut the tourism budget by 11% in real terms over the last 8 years. This has occurred while competing states have increased their tourism budget.
“The Report clearly spells out the ‘don’t care’ attitude that the Labor Government has had towards the tourism industry and it is the industry that has suffered badly at their hands.
“To allow the CEO of Tourism NSW to take the fall for their appalling mismanagement is the easy way out for the Government.
“The Report highlights poor decisions and lack of focus in many areas that are the sole responsibility of the State Government, which have contributed to the decline of Tourism in this State,” he said.
The Report, which is highly critical of the State Labor Government, says that State Government controlled factors such as aviation policy, regulation and planning processes had contributed to the decline of the NSW Tourism Industry.
“The State Government have been asleep at the wheel on Tourism since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It is unconscionable but predictable for the Government to allow the head of Tourism NSW to take the blame for their shortcomings,” Mr Page said.
