David Crisafulli, Kate Jones unite and say it’s a knife fight

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Opposition MP David Crisafulli agree on the Gold Coast’s post-coronavirus recovery – it will be a state-versus-state ‘knife fight’.

STATE Tourism Minister Kate Jones and her LNP shadow counterpart David Crisafulli are in unison on the Gold Coast’s post-coronavirus recovery – it will be a state-versus-state “knife fight”.

The political opponents echoed each other yesterday saying Queensland and the Gold Coast would be competing with the rest of the country for domestic and Kiwi visitors when coronavirus clamps ease.

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones and LNP Shadow David Crisafulli are in unison on the Gold Coast’s post-coronavirus recovery – it will be a state-versus-state ‘knife fight’ PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Mr Crisafulli, the Broadwater MP, said: “States that sell a vision, get projects running and create new plus traditional jobs will be the ones that prosper. The ones that dither and don’t embark on an ambitious plan will wither.

“We are now in competition – it's state on state. Once the health issues are put to bed, it will be a knife fight,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli who has called for Labor to set “goalposts” and “benchmarks” for bleeding operators to work to added: “Based on what I’ve seen we still don’t have a (state) economic recovery plan.

“We are going into the knife fight with a slightly sharpened paperclip. We need to be prepared to be the state which emerges from hibernation as the land of opportunity.”

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli has called for Labor to set “goalposts” and “benchmarks” for bleeding operators to work to. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Ms Jones didn’t share his criticism of her and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s preparedness to lead the recovery but she “agreed” it would be a state-on-state “knife fight”.

“We’ll be using a Crocodile Dundee knife. When restrictions are lifted, Queensland will be out of the blocks. I have full confidence in our tourism industry and operators we will be best placed in the nation.”

Ms Jones said her government was working on industry-led “back to business plans”.

An optimistic Ms Jones said Australians spent $56 billion annually going overseas, with Bali the favoured destination and while Bali remained off-limits, Queensland would extend the invite to NSW and Victorian holidaymakers: “It will be a knife fight between states and Queensland will be ready to take advantage.”

Ms Jones said her government was working on industry-led “back to business plans”. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The pair’s stark description of the looming battle for a smaller tourism pie comes after the Bulletin revealed Gold Coast tourism leaders were mapping out how to aggressively lead the city recovery.

Destination Gold Coast has already released a promotional video to appeal to couped up parents who’ll need a getaway.

A source last week warned there’d be a lot of “clutter and everyone will be competing for their share of business”.

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Destination Gold Coast has already released a promotional video to appeal to couped up parents who’ll need a getaway. Photo: Supplied.

Yesterday, LNP leader Deb Frecklington piled pressure on the State Government for a recovery road map with her own four-stage plan.

Phase one has cafes and restaurants open by the end of May. Border and intrastate travel restrictions will also partially ease with residents within 100km of the border able to cross it. Community facilities, pools and libraries, would re-open in June and July. All intrastate travel clamps would lift by mid-July.

“The LNP plan fixes Labor’s border crossing bungles that have split communities. Gold Coast jobs are reliant on the tourism industry and our plan gives operators the certainty.”

LNP leader Deb Frecklington piled pressure on the State Government for a recovery road map with her own four-stage plan (AAP Image/Dan Peled).

“We cannot be complacent about the virus, but we cannot be complacent about the future either,” she said.

“Business can’t be left in the dark, they need to know what the plan looks like to restart the economy, they need certainty.

Ms Frecklington said the LNP’s recovery road map was staged and measured and would depend on the continued control of coronavirus and social-distancing rules.