The Turnbull Government’ s launch in London of its desperate and last minute $10 million tax payer funded advertising campaign to try and lure back backpackers from Europe is symptomatic of a Government that is muddling its way through poor public policy delivery.
It is clear for everyone to see that from the outset of this debate tourists, our fruit growers, wine makers and other small businesses have been relegated to second place.
This Government failed to consult with these sectors and failed to consider the impact of these major changes to the rate of tax would have on these sectors and out attractiveness to backpackers from Europe and elsewhere.
Fifty thousand backpackers per year visit Tasmania and they have not for one second been considered during this debate by this directionless Turnbull Government. Now, because of this Turnbull Government’s lacklustre approach to governing we have fruit on trees that can’t be picked.
For the sake of the security of the tourism and agriculture sectors I hope that this advertising campaign works and it is not too late to encourage the 50,000 backpackers that visit Tasmanian shores every year to come and work in our great state.
This Turnbull Government needs to start talking with the sectors and community which are affected by its brash public policy approach and start implementing policy which is well constructed.
The internal infighting between Abbott and Turnbull must stop, because currently it is resulting in muddling through public policy.
**** The Senate Economics Legislation Committee will hold a public hearing in Launceston on Wednesday 2 November into this issue at Grand Chancellor Hotel, Room 6, 29 Cameron Street, 9.00am – 2.00pm****
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE LEADER (TASMANIA) SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR AGEING SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
