Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism and Burnett MP Stephen Bennett has welcomed the Labor state Government’s decision to extend tourism vouchers to Burnett’s Southern Great Barrier Reef to aid Queensland’s economic recovery.
Under the $1 million Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program, an LNP initiative adopted by the Labor Government, Queensland students will be eligible for up to $150 to visit the Great Barrier Reef over the next three years.
Initially, the program was restricted to the northern Great Barrier Reef, which left the Southern Great Barrier Reef high and dry.
“I welcome the State Government’s decision to adopt the LNP’s plan to bring students to the Great Barrier Reef to boost our tourism industry, and I’m pleased to see common sense has prevailed in extending these vouchers to the Southern Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Bennett said.
“I was initially bewildered as to why the beautiful Southern Great Barrier Reef was completely snubbed when they announced the rollout of the scheme.
“The reef is right on our doorstep too, and I would argue that we have the best part of the reef at our fingertips.”
Mr Bennett said all tourism operators throughout the state deserved a helping hand.
“All our tourism operators need help, whether it’s Cairns to Coolangatta, and the Southern Great Barrier Reef is no different,” he said.
“As we start to recover from the tourism slump, it’s important that the whole of the Great Barrier Reef including the wonderful Great Southern Barrier Reef, is included, so I’m pleased to see this has now been acknowledged.”
Mr Bennett said the program would be beneficial for students, the Great Barrier Reef and the regions.
“We know if we can get kids involved and engaged with the reef, there’s so much to add value to our region,” he said.
“These vouchers should have been made available to all the regions right from the get go to make sure people can engage and learn about our iconic Great Barrier Reef.”
Mr Bennett thanked the state government for hearing the region’s pleas to extend the program.
ENDS.
Tuesday 9 March 2021