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Jason Gagliardi

‘Like the revenue but don’t like the tourists? Can’t have it both ways, Tassie’

Jason Gagliardi
Triple-header: Miranda, Blake and Mark Packer of Nowra, NSW enjoy a ride on Hobart’s Trike Mania Adventure Tour in happier times. Picture: Matt Thompson
Triple-header: Miranda, Blake and Mark Packer of Nowra, NSW enjoy a ride on Hobart’s Trike Mania Adventure Tour in happier times. Picture: Matt Thompson

Welcome to the column where you provide the content. Born and bred Taswegian Charles Wooley wondered if the locals’ celebration of a virus-inspired respite from the tourist hordes would last if the the pesky tourists never came back. Make up your minds, said Jim:

“We like the tourism revenue but we don’t like the tourists. Can’t have it both ways.

I live in Brisbane. Every school holidays the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are inundated with tourists. Especially in summer, which I find bizarre because that’s when we get virtually all our annual rainfall, mostly as storms. I stay home, let the operators make their money, and enjoy our beaches in the off season.”

Michael of Sevilla’s moan:

“I spent two weeks as a tourist in Tasmania a couple of years ago. I was amazed at the cost of essentials and the fact that I had to buy bottled water on the east coast. Mobile access was limited and the wine was, well let’s just say, disappointing after all the hype. I promise you I will stay away forever.”

Demetrios had no doubt:

“Great article and a noble dream. Once we have a vaccine (it seems we will) there will be a long period of recovery and then all back to normal! Nothing beats the almighty dollar and greed!”

Greg reckoned:

“Same with other over touristy places like the Sunshine Coast. Not many locals went to Noosa pre-COVID as you couldn’t get a park and it was so crowded. Locals are now heading back there.”

Ian opined:

“I too live in a tourist town, but on the far north coast of NSW. Is there ever a case of too much tourism? Yes, especially without the infrastructure in the town to support it — I’m looking at you Byron Bay (and no I don’t live there). Yet for many tourist towns it’s our visitors who support many of our locals in their livelihoods. Maybe one value of the lockdown is it’s helped locals everywhere realise we enjoy a slower pace of life rather than being caught in the modern malaise of being “busy”. Surely we can learn to implement that slower pace ourselves, without cutting off the arm that feeds us? Our quality of life is not the fault of those outside of us.”

No mercy from Jeffrey from the Country:

“Without tourism Tasmania would not have much of an economy at all. I guess that is OK by the locals when supported by mainland money. If Tasmania had to generate its own income and that was all they had no live off, the attitude would be a lot different in that they would be forced to have some industry, mining, manufacturing, reopen forestry and generate wealth from the huge proportion of the state now occupied by national parks.”

Don’t agree, said Daisy:

“Having lived in Tas for decades I disagree with a lot of that. Perhaps I don’t visit the waterfront enough but I don’t notice tourists at all, nor do I see a lot of people I know when out. In a state of half a million you don’t come across people you know any more often than you would in say North Fitzroy or any other suburb of the mainland.

“As for Richmond being unpleasant because of tourists, no, Richmond has suffered terribly from a lack of planning. That’s why it is unpleasant. Look down the main street and that beautiful historic town has turned into a jumble of modern signage and paraphernalia, so much so that it has obliterated the streetscape. Shopkeepers say ‘oh but we need the advertising signs to attract people to our business...’, forgetting that tourists come to the town to see a historic streetscape from the convict era not to find a meat pie with sauce.

“The council in trying to preserve the heritage values for new buildings think that sandstone can be substituted with look alike concrete blocks and lead light windows look exactly like the new cheaper substitutes. Words fail me. I don’t go there anymore.”

Graeme gave the game away:
“Flinders island (part of Tasmania) is yet totally unknown to most potential tourists but is the next ‘hidden ‘ tourism destination and as well for people simply wishing to isolate from the maddening crowd, perhaps for good!”

Emma was irate:
“Shush. Keep quiet. Why are you telling everyone about it?”

Doug didn’t disagree:

“Spot on. I also grew up in Tassie and go home as often as I can. The change from tourist overpopulation is unbelievable. Masses of people lining up for a brief glimpse of Wine Glass Bay, cars lining up to get into Cradle Mountain national park, and of course the irony is that they are all looking to get back to nature and away from the maddening crowds!”

Splendid isolation: Toursists get away from it all at Hobart’s Brooke Street Piers. Picture: Luke Bowden
Splendid isolation: Toursists get away from it all at Hobart’s Brooke Street Piers. Picture: Luke Bowden

Philb’s prescription:

“ ‘In place of ‘over-tourism’, let’s have quality tourism with fewer people spending more money and having a better experience.’ I read these sort of statements from various countries and destinations but I have never seen any definition of what a quality tourist is and how much money they are supposed to have or spend.

“I suspect this is because the people saying this either have no idea, in which case it is simply a vacuous motherhood-type statement, or they recognise the potential backlash if they started specifying who these ‘high quality more monied’ people might be. Be grateful people visit and spend which provides jobs and take responsibility for managing the destinations sustainably.”

Peter’s point:

“So Charles Wooley dislikes the social impact of tourism in Tasmania. He fails to put forward what his alternative economic vision for the place would be. Improving the poor educational outcomes of the place would be a start.

“The citizens of Tasmania have long seemed to be convinced that the rest of Australia owes them a living. We don’t and I for one would rather pay less tax than have to support Tasmania to be some sort of bucolic, economic activity free, gainful employment free zone.

I also object to half a million people having ten Senators and as a consequence of very low quotas, some of the throwbacks like Brown , Milne and Lambie they elect and then inflict on the rest of Australia.”

Deakin speaks:

“A thought-provoking article. MONA (which is brilliant) has put Tasmania on the world cultural map, there is a unique historical landscape in much of Tasmania and they do better food and wine than most of Australia. But no-one really wants the cruise ship crowd, who spend very little and scurry back to their floating Petri dishes without ever speaking to the locals. How to be more selective in attracting tourists?”

Said Brenda:

“Tasmania is largely unpopulated and about half the land area is only suitable for one form of agriculture: forestry. Charles Wooley has been a vigourous opponent of the forestry industry. Since the early 80s the national parks have expanded so that parks and forest reserves now occupy most of the land area formally available for logging.

“Trees are a crop just like any other crop and I suspect the fact that their life span is about the same as our own led to the overbearing sentimentality that was the genesis of the Greens. When the hard times arrive I hope there will emerge a more rational appraisal of our options.”

Arvid’s assessment:

“My mother moved down there in the later years of her life. She was very direct and of the people there she said two things. Two types of people here, greenies, garden variety and rabid greenies. On another visit when I commented how many police were out and about, she said two types of people here: those who are in gaol and those who should be.”

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Ford pills: Clementine gave back her grant, because it was named after a man.
Ford pills: Clementine gave back her grant, because it was named after a man.

After Clementine “I bathe in male tears” Ford announced that the coronavirus wasn’t killing men fast enough, The Mocker suggested it might be time to put toxic feminism under the microscope. Brad (the quiet Australian) said:

“The difference between the Left and the Right is that the Left cannot cop it. The confected indignation that follows when a man makes a woman look foolish or is subject to the scenarios outlined above by Ford is the sort of reaction that has denied the Right an equal amount of free speech that the Left continues to enjoy in this country. Personally, I don’t mind the sort of commentary that Ford is comfortable at dishing out. They cannot cop it back, and that is the problem here.”

Charles J considered:
“The confected indignation that follows when a man makes a woman look foolish. Have you ever noticed many ads on TV make men look dopey? It is never the other way around.”

Eiszeit (often censored) said:

“Reminds me of New Idea womans magazine with the Mere Male column, $100 for the letter of the week.”

Kym chipped in:

“Has anyone noticed the dumbing down and degradation of the male species in the advertising industry. Virtually every ad has a senario where the male is as dumb as dirt. Turn it around and you would see mass complaints.”

Alfonso announced:

“Brilliant article. I noticed that our ‘beloved’ public broadcaster did not even mention her comments and the reaction from the City of Melbourne.”

David doubled down:

“Much the same over the ABC’s refusal to note or discuss the Andrew’s government subservience to the Chinese in buying into their belt and road takeover scheme.”

Terse from TonyW:

“Anyone who cannot prosecute an argument without resorting to crass schoolyard expletives is not worth listening to.”

Sean said:

“Remember the debate on free speech when changes to 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act were proposed? The left were adamant that it is not free speech to issue vile and offensive comments. Where are they now? Handing out taxpayer money to someone who publishes vile and offensive comments it seems.

“Let’s just test how offensive this comment was. In the phrase below substitute xxxxxx with any other section of the community (race, religion, gender, sexual preference), other than men, and you have the most outrageous comment that would have anyone else arrested and rightly so.”

Meet Karen, said Ian:

“Clementine Ford and I imagine many of her female fans, finally have a name: ‘Karen’ is a term currently used in popular culture when referring to a specific type of woman. A ‘Karen’ is typically a woman between the ages of 30–60, privileged and has the air of a suburban feminist. What is most distinctive about ‘Karen’s though, are that they are incredibly self-entitled, opinionated and belligerent. They are the ‘I-want-to-speak-to your-manager’ type of woman. ‘Karen’ is almost always used as a term for a kind of woman who refuse to treat other people decently.”

Play us out, Tim:

“Two things. Do we really need this sort of discourse, in public or in private. What does it add to life? And as someone who is progressive I deplore toxic behaviour from whoever it comes. Most people, progressive and conservative alike, are decent and capable of behaving with respect. Unfortunately both sides focus on the shortcomings of those opposite.”

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A crown for every achievement: Jean Dong prepares to pull the wool over Chairman Dan’s eyes.
A crown for every achievement: Jean Dong prepares to pull the wool over Chairman Dan’s eyes.

Dong Jin’s crowning glory was an important step in her transformation into Jean Dong, who in 2011 was getting ready to embark on a self-proclaimed “journey of influence” that would see her become a central figure in the political row over Daniel And­rews’s decision to sign up to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Peter was pessimistic:

“This is a direct quote from ASIO to Australias military chiefs: ‘Right now, there are more foreign intelligence officers and their proxies operating in Australia than at the height of the Cold War – many with the capability, the intent and the determination to cause significant harm to Australia’s national security’.”

Said Les:

“The only conclusion one can draw from the information is that far, far too many Chinese people from Communist China are getting way too close to the centre of power in Victoria and are having far more influence there than they should.”

Go said M.o:

“All credit to Dong Jin for being such a go-getter. During her studies, she probably read Paul Keating’s statement ‘Never stand in the way of a Premier and a pot of money’ and used his sage advice to ‘influence’ Dan Andrews to sign up to BRI.”

A credible piece of completely independent thinking from Jasper:

“Why on earth has the Chinese People become a rash. For the past 30 years we have been massive trade partners and part of our growth can be attributed to their wealth. All because a loud mouthed American golf course owner stuffed up and now wants someone else to blame. “I for one will not be party to this obvious racism that lays boiling under the Australian skin. The US itself is bordering upon a second Civil War over racism. As far as I can ascertain MOU is just that a Memorandum of Understanding and no real big deals have been signed. The Chinese CCP have a lease over Darwin Port approved at federal level. Also one in Sri Lanka and India. Russia and the US have very similar deals worldwide.”

Mark’s advice:

“Jasper, the CCP can’t give you credit for this post as they don’t know it’s really you. Good CCP graft but you need videos and a website to get ahead.”

Andrew’s assessment:

“The whole DFAT system needs an overhaul. Having dealt with them for 15 years in Asia I see inconsistency and lack of accountability borne out of a poor selection of talent. DFAT is only as good as the in country rep (trade commissioner) and once they get the role that country is stuck with them until their contract is up.”

Anna was aghast:

“No doubt this woman is ambitious, self promoting and a clever manipulator. How is it that she is allowed to lobby and interfere in government business is beyond belief. Bob Carr is directly paid by the Chinese so I have no illusions. But Andrews is the premier and has huge responsibilities for the prosperity and well being of victorians. He is a huge disappointment!”

Last word to Lily:

“I am not a Victorian so I just can’t figure out if Andrews is arrogant, ambitious, naive or just plain stupid. And you have to ask if he thought, until the coronavirus shone a light on China and its aggressive expansion of influence, he’d gotten away with it. After all the Belts and Roads Initiative deal was signed well over a year ago.

‘There have been warning bells, eg the islands in the South China Sea, the influence China has allegedly bought to control organisations such as the WHO, the growing influence of China through the Belts and Roads Initiative in both Africa and South Pacific Island Nations.

We ignored all this. and let’s face it, there is very little we could do about it.

“But Chinese influence is something which can and will affect us and there is something we can and should do about Chinese influence in Australia.”

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Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length

Jason Gagliardi

Jason Gagliardi is the engagement editor and a columnist at The Australian, who got his start at The Courier-Mail in Brisbane. He was based for 25 years in Hong Kong and Bangkok. His work has been featured in publications including Time, the Sunday Telegraph Magazine (UK), Colors, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Harpers Bazaar and Roads & Kingdoms, and his travel writing won Best Asean Travel Article twice at the ASEANTA Awards.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/like-the-revenue-but-dont-like-the-tourists-cant-have-it-both-ways-tassie/news-story/363f92a6d203262cf6a628a341b62d3d