WA Premier labels Morrison government’s $1.2bn tourism package ‘disgraceful and outrageous’

One Premier has hit out at the Morrison government’s $1.2bn tourism package, labelling it ‘disgraceful and outrageous’.

Premier Mark McGowan says the federal government is punishing WA for its border policy. Picture: True North

Premier Mark McGowan has hit out at the federal government’s cheap flight plan, which only includes one spot in Western Australia, claiming it is “disgraceful and outrageous” to “punish” the state for its border rules.

The Morrison government’s $1.2bn tourism and aviation rescue package includes 800,000 half-price airline tickets to more than a dozen locations from April 1, but Broome is the only WA spot.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has hit out at the plan. Picture: AAP

“It’s very disappointing that they’d ignore Western Australia like that,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Thursday.

“Other states are getting far more flights out of this package and far more people are able to access the package to destinations in other states, whereas ... Western Australia is missing out.

“The Liberal Party punishing Western Australia (for its border rules) is actually disgraceful and outrageous, and I’d urge them to ensure that this decision is changed.”

Mr McGowan noted other states, such as Tasmania and South Australia, had also introduced lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic but were not being punished.

Riding on camels along Cable Beach is a popular activity in Broome. Picture: Roxane Dhand

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said people needed confidence to support Australia’s tourism industry and the threat of snap border closures was the main concern for travellers.

“It is the biggest obstacle to confidence,” he told 6PR radio.

“All the surveys that have been done by Tourism Australia say it is state border closures more than the pandemic which is now stopping people from travelling.

“One of the things we’re really looking for ... is a firm message from state and territory leaders that border closures will now be used as a last resort.”

Mr Tehan said the routes were not set in stone and additional capacity could be added down the track.

“What we’ve done initially is we’re encouraging people to travel to those areas which have been hard hit by the loss of international tourists,” he said.

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says people need confidence to support Australia’s tourism industry. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr McGowan reiterated that WA’s hard border had protected the state.

“We’ve got the strongest economy of anywhere in Australia — the only state that didn’t go into a recession,” he told reporters.

“As Standard and Poor’s identified ... (WA has) the strongest set of public finances of anywhere in the world, yet we’re being punished for that.”

Mr McGowan again pointed out the hypocrisy of the federal government shutting Australia’s border to New Zealand whenever they had an outbreak, saying WA had simply done the same thing when there were outbreaks interstate.

Tourism Council WA chief executive officer Evan Hall said the discounted airfares targeted marginal east coast electorates.

“Not only are WA destinations such as Kununurra, Busselton and Perth excluded from the federal package, these WA destinations will lose more visitors and jobs as tourists opt to holiday in Queensland and Tasmania instead through discounted flights,” he said.

Mr Hall said one in five tourism operators risked shutting down when JobKeeper, rent freezes and loan deferrals end, so continued financial assistance was critical during the pandemic.

“WA tourism businesses need real support, not pork barrelling for Queensland and Tasmania,” he said.