Labor promises regional tourism and wages boost for South Australia

Bill Shorten has pledged to provide a jobs boost in regional tourism destinations under a $195 million national plan, as the Prime Minister prepares to visit SA.

Regional tourism destinations across South Australia have been promised a boost under a $195 million national plan by Labor to increase jobs and the economy.

The Opposition will also ramp up its campaign on penalty rate cuts on Monday, setting its agenda for a week focused on wages.

However the Coalition, who will continue campaigning on its theme of “economic management”, is expected to counter the claims saying a stronger economy means more jobs and higher wages.

Opposition Bill Shorten, speaking on Labor’s regional tourism plan, says it will deliver more jobs, better attractions, better airports and smarter marketing.

“Regional tourism provides more than half a million jobs in related industries, with 43 cents in every tourism dollar spent in regional Australia,” Mr Shorten said.

Labor’s $195 million regional tourism plan includes:

$100m for local councils to maintain and grow regional airports
$40m to improve infrastructure around existing regional tourism attractions in partnership with government and industry
$30m to unlock new tourism opportunities so individual regions can offer a broader range of experiences to visitors
$25m for Tourism Australia to promote domestic tourism

The airport funding matches what the Coalition announced in the Budget, and any ideas to expand tourism opportunities in regional SA would be considered for funding.

As Labor continues its “referendum on wages”, its analysis released today shows that SA pharmacy workers will be up to $26,500 worse off over the next three years.

It can also be revealed fast food and hospitality workers would receive up to $9000 more, under a Labor government — which has pledged to legislate a reversal to penalty rate cuts in its first 100 days.

However, a Coalition campaign spokeswoman said you can’t get a pay rise if you don’t have a job.

“More than 1.3 million more people have a job then when we were elected in 2013,” she said. “Bill Shorten knows it is the independent Fair Work Commission that sets penalty rates, not the Government.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will continue to highlight the government’s strong economic record “without increasing taxes” as he campaigns in key seats this week.

The Advertiser understands a trip to South Australia is also imminent. Labor leader Mr Shorten, Greens leader Richard Di Natale, and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson all visited the state last week.

Originally published as Labor promises regional tourism and wages boost for South Australia