SECURING CAIRNS’ CRUISING FUTURE Enhancing Tourism, Creating Jobs and Providing Long Term Economic Benefits A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government will deliver the Cairns Shipping Development Project and create 800 jobs during construction and 2,700 after construction. The Liberal National Party has a plan to create jobs 2017 – meaning three years of Labor inaction. and diversify the Queensland economy by focusing With an election in the wind, Labor made a last-minute on six key economic drivers. The LNP’s commitment announcement to fund half of the dredging of the to deliver the Cairns Shipping Development Project Trinity Inlet for the Cairns Cruise Ship Terminal with will further enhance Cairns’ world-class tourism the rest to be funded by Ports North. reputation, create construction jobs and provide long-term economic benefit for the people of Cairns while properly managing the environment. Our Record Only the LNP has been a constant supporter of the The Problem Cairns Cruise Ship Terminal. In 2012, we allocated $40 million for this project. Cairns is crying out for leadership and Labor have failed to provide it over the last three years. Labor has The Liberal National Party started the Environmental cut $270 million from infrastructure spending in Cairns Impact Statement (EIS) process in September 2012. in the first two years of the Palaszczuk Government. If we had not done this, Labor’s restriction on capital dredging would have killed the Cairns Shipping The inexperienced Palaszczuk Labor Government Development Project. has restricted capital dredging for growing ports such as Cairns. Labor did not allocate any money in The Cairns Shipping Development Project represents either of its first two budgets for the Cairns Shipping a key economic driver for the Cairns economy, Development Project. supporting and creating hundreds of new jobs into the future. In fact, in Labor’s first budgetthey cut $32 million that the LNP had put aside for dredging for the Cairns Cruise Shipping Terminal. When in Cairns, Our Real Plan Labor Treasurer Curtis Pitt says this project is a priority A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will: – then in Brisbane, he cuts the funding. • Contribute $60 million for the dredging of the The 2015-16 Ports North Statement of Corporate Trinity Inlet – the people of Cairns have already Intent states: waited too long “Cairns cruise shipping numbers to the Port of Cairns have declined in recent years with vessels anchoring • Work with Ports North to make sure the final at Yorkeys Knob and Port Douglas increasing as permits and approvals are not delayed vessel sizes are beyond the Cairns Port’s channel • Ensure local businesses see the benefits of more capacity and targeting mid-size ships home porting in cruise ships to Cairns, and Cairns.“ • Abide by the EIS findings withall dredge material In December 2016, the Labor Government extended to be dumped onshore. the EIS deadline from 30 June 2017 to 31 December To learn more about Our Plan visit betterqueensland.org.au SECURING CAIRNS’ CRUISING FUTURE Frequently Asked Questions What other initiatives are supported by the LNP to support tourism growth in Far North Queensland? What are the economic benefits of cruise shipping? Recognising the need to boost WiFi coverage and local Cruise shipping is one of the fastest-growing tourism infrastructure in key tourism hotspots, the LNP has sectors. The direct expenditure (including both domestic announced a plan to provide an additional 500 WiFi and international passenger, crew, operator and hotspots, in partnership with local government and corporate expenditure) by the cruise shipping industry Regional Tourism Organisations. in Australia in 2013-14 was estimated at $1.854 billion. Sixty per cent of this was in New South Wales, with Using digital and social media to showcase the great Cairns receiving only a $12 million slice of the spending tourism locations is a smart way to share the word that – that’s less than 0.7 per cent! Better facilities mean Queensland is a great place to visit. more vessels, more days at port, more passengers and We have an amazing range of natural and man- greater local expenditure. made tourism assets that are unique to Queensland, setting our state apart from other Australian tourist What size cruise ships will the facility be able to destinations. From the Great Barrier Reef in the Far accommodate? North, to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum near The facility will cater for mega cruise ships up to 300m Winton in the outback and the turtles at Mon Repos long. That means Cairns will have the best cruise ship near Bundaberg, we have clear advantages that we facilities in Queensland. Currently cruise vessels at need to capitalise on. Portside Wharf in Brisbane are limited to vessels less Queensland needs an edge to boost tourism and to than 270m long, with larger vessels diverted to the Port ensure that we don’t keep losing market share to our of Brisbane. Cairns is a tourism hotspot and deserves interstate competitors – as we have done under Labor. the best facilities. More than 20,000 extra jobs are predicted in the Will the dredging impact on the Great Barrier Reef? tourism industry over the next four years, but that won’t No. All dredging will be subject to strict State and happen without a plan to grow tourism. Federal environmental conditions and all dredge material will be dumped onshore. Authorised by L.Folo. 66-68 Bowen Street, Spring Hill QLD 4000. Together, Let’s Build a Better Queensland To learn more about Our Plan visit betterqueensland.org.au.