Regional tourism is withering on the vine
While Sports Minister Stuart Ayres obsesses with sports stadiums in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, regional tourism organisations are withering on the vine.
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The recent and unedifying Sydney sports stadium debate has an unfortunate side story – the neglect of Mr Ayres’ other areas of responsibility, particularly regional tourism.
Regional tourism has been all but forgotten under the Baird-Grant Government, despite the fact that it brings in $12.9 billion to the NSW economy and supports over 150,000 jobs.
In his capacity as Minister for Tourism, Mr Ayres has delayed and delayed again finalising a substantial review into the funding and organisation of regional tourism organisations.
While the industry continues to wait for the review – now seven months overdue – Mr Ayres has been silent.
Meanwhile, one operator responsible for promoting tourism across most of north and western NSW has gone into voluntary administration, while others are fighting for their survival.
The Baird Government must finalise the review and implement any recommendations immediately to assist tourism operators in regional NSW.
Mick Veitch – Shadow Minister for Western NSW
Penny Sharpe – Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events
We need balance when talking about firearms
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen yet another scare campaign by the Greens on firearms ownership, trying to stir up emotions and get more runs in the media. This sort of fear-mongering is part and parcel of what we’ve seen on the firearms debate this country over the past 20 years. Unfortunately, the Greens never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Let’s start with some base facts, starting with noted ANU Criminologist Dr Jason Payne, on ABC Radio Canberra recently:
“To know … that registered firearm usage has increased I don't think should alarm people around the potential use of those firearms in the illegal context, because we don't know from any research that there's any relationship between those two,” he said. (Suggesting) … that somehow an increase in the use of firearms for recreational purposes would somehow translate into an increase in the rate in which firearms are used illegally is, I think, a bit of a stretch in this case."
In 1996, John Howard’s firearms restrictions came as a swift political public relations response to a tragedy in Port Arthur. He admitted that he had to be seen to be doing something, so that’s why we saw increased restrictions on law-abiding firearms owners.
Our argument at the time was that this wouldn’t have any impact on the firearm homicide rate, and 20 years later the statistics bear out that prediction. In fact, a recent systematic review study published in the journal Aggression and Violent Behaviour by Dr Samara McPhedran of Griffith University proved our point. Dr McPhedran’s research shows that “no study found statistical evidence of any significant impact of the legislative changes on firearm homicide rates” in Australia.
The real problem we face in NSW, and indeed Australia-wide, rests with illegal firearms. NSW Justice and Police Minister, Troy Grant, said on November 5 last year that:
“…Victims of gun crime… are victims of illegal guns and unregistered guns – not the ones you buy at firearms dealers.”
Whether they are farmers, hunters, or target shooters, law-abiding firearms owners deserve not to be constantly branded as criminals-in-waiting.