Tourism package: Peter Dutton and Richard Marles clash over government plan

Peter Dutton has accused a political opponent of ‘drinking again’ in a lighthearted clash over the government’s tourism support package.

Peter Dutton has accused deputy Labor leader Richard Marles of “drinking last night” in a lighthearted clash over the government’s tourism support package.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled the federal government’s post-JobKeeper plan for the tourism sector, centred on 800,000 half-price airfare tickets on selected routes.

But some tourism operators argue the package does little to support them. Mr Morrison was also forced to deny politicising the package, with many of the support areas in marginal or winnable seats.

Mr Marles described the package as a “lemon”, saying it would not alleviate job losses brought on by the end of JobKeeper later this month.

“Half-price tickets to marginal electorates, that’s fine,” he told Today.

“But there are so many tourist operators who are struggling with the fact that there is the necessary closure of our international borders.

RELATED: Federal government to offer 800,000 half-price flights in billion-dollar tourism boost

Peter Dutton was involved in a lighthearted back and forth with deputy Labor leader Richard Marles. Picture: Today

Mr Marles described the tourism package as a ‘lemon’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The tourist sector has been looking to this for weeks now to see what the answer was going to be. What they have got here is a lemon.”

But Mr Dutton described the suggestion the money was allocated on political grounds as “almost defamatory”.

“I’m looking forward to Peter suing me for that comment,” Mr Marles replied.

“Richard has been drinking last night again,” Mr Dutton said.

“Now that’s defamatory!” the deputy Labor leader replied.

“I’ll see you in court. I’m there at 9am,” Mr Dutton said.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce welcomed the package, which also included support for international crews to help keep them afloat until international borders reopened.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has welcomed the package, but tourism operators feel they’ve been left behind. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

But Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner on Thursday warned most tourism operators would be left without assistance.

He claimed destinations across north Queensland were mainly reliant on international tourism, saying a boost in domestic numbers would be unable to replace losses from the international market.

“This really is targeted to the aviation industry and maybe some tourist destinations … it certainly does not help us at all,” he said.

But Mr Morrison said the package would have a major flow-on benefit to tourism operators and businesses in areas with an influx of domestic tourism.

He said Qantas would begin working tourism operators on travel packages once the tickets were in circulation.

“The 50 per cent discount on the airfare gets combined with a hotel deal, a tour out on the Reef or wherever you happen to go,” he said.

“(They) package it up. That’s how the travel industry works, and they’re very, very good at it.”