Page 294 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 May 1989
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MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (12.06), in reply: Mr Speaker, I have found this debate and the response of members to the motion quite exciting. It is a clear demonstration of the unanimous support of this chamber for this vital industry, and I do not think that we can underestimate the value of the broad party support for tourism.
The response today has emphasised to me that when I do bring together the tourism industry consultative committee we should involve the spokespersons of the other parties on a regular basis with that particular body, and I intend to do that. They will not be permanent members of the committee - that probably would not be appropriate, and they would not have the time, I hope, because on that body you can work rather hard - but none of us has a monopoly on ideas in any area, let alone this particular area. I think that benefits can be gained by allowing the enthusiasm of all members here to contribute to that consultative process. When the committee first meets, which I hope will be in the next two to three weeks, the parties will be invited to send a representative along, and then as the committee gets into gear it will happen on a regular basis.
Mrs Nolan raised the question of including the word "Tourism" in the name of my portfolio. As you know, the portfolio is Industry, Employment and Education. It is a fairly vast portfolio and covers such matters as employment, industry, education, development, sport, training, tourism, recreation, TAFE, labour, the economy and the casino.
A member: Why do you not just call yourself Minister for Almost Everything?
MR WHALAN: I canvassed a few ideas for acronyms on this side of the chamber. My colleague on my right here came up with the proposal of Tourism, Industry and Training. Another suggestion was Tourism, Employment, Education and Training. Yet another was Sport, Employment, Education, Development and Industry, which forms the acronym SEEDI. If I had time, I could have gone right round the chamber. This one - get your pens ready for this one - is Tourism, Education, Sport, Training, Industry, Casino, Labour and the Economy. On that note I would just like to express my very genuine thanks for the enthusiasm for this motion. I give an undertaking to develop and maintain a regular consultation process with all the parties on this particular policy area.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR SPEAKER: I draw members' attention to standing order 41, which refers to a member not passing between the Chair and any member who is speaking. Because of the layout of the Assembly it is most difficult for us to abide by that standing order. However, when members are moving between a speaker and the Chair, would they please do so as quickly
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