Tourism Visitor Numbers

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:03): Supplementary: can the minister confirm that the overall international spend is down by 5 per cent and, if so, why is he cutting funding for international marketing?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:03): Only members opposite would find some reason to criticise $7.6 billion—a record high, up 12 per cent from last year—only the people opposite, who do not get out and about, who have their head stuck in a bucket most of the time. Regional numbers are up—it is great news. Chinese numbers are up some 19 per cent; Japanese visitors are up 6 per cent. It is great news, and it is just a shame that members opposite are just a whinging, whining opposition that cannot celebrate the wonderful news of a visitor economy of $7.6 billion.