The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed Labor’s pledge to help northern Australia build sustainable tourism infrastructure and urged the Coalition to make a similar commitment for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed Labor’s pledge to help northern Australia build sustainable tourism infrastructure and urged the Coalition to make a similar commitment for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed Labor’s pledge to help northern Australia build sustainable tourism infrastructure and urged the Coalition to make a similar commitment for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
“Tourism is a fast growing sector that contributes more than $23 billion[i] to the Queensland economy alone,” said Graham Tupper, ACF’s Northern Australia Program Manager.
“In northern Australia, tourism sustains many more direct jobs than mining does. Tourism jobs are more resilient and provide employment across many more regional areas.
“Visitors come to northern Australia to experience its world renowned natural wonders like the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. These natural assets need better protection and infrastructure projects need to be carefully chosen to avoid causing more damage.
“There are many great opportunities to expand Indigenous tourism ventures in northern Australia, particularly on Cape York Peninsula, in Kakadu and the Kimberley.
“Investing in infrastructure in growing, sustainable sectors such as tourism is a much smarter move than subsidising infrastructure in declining industries such as coal mining which degrade the health of our natural assets.
“If the focus on sustainable tourism is strategically matched with a boost to renewable energy infrastructure in northern Australia, such as large scale solar, then the future of northern Australia will be a lot brighter.”
[i] According to the Queensland Tourism Industry Council
