TUE 20 JANUARY 2015

Mediaportal Report

Confusion reigns over Cape flights14 Jan 2015Western Cape Bulletin, Weipa QLD, General News, Matt Nicholls

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Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, is still reportedly ill, missing from his party's election ...19 Jan 2015 6:07 PMSeven Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sunshine News, Newsreader

Duration: 1 min 31 secs • ASR AUD 3,544 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: M00060303815

Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, is still reportedly ill, missing from his party's election launch on the Gold Coast this morning. AtCoolum yesterday, candidates officially launched the campaign. State leader or the PUP, John Bjelke-Petersen, has promised tolobby for Commonwealth support to develop the Sunshine Coast Airport. Meanwhile, pre-polling has opened in Maroochydore.

59,000 ALL24,000 MALE 16+29,000 FEMALE 16+

Interviewees

Bill Gissane, ALP Candidate for Maroochydore|John Bjelke-Petersen, Palmer United Party

Tourism chiefs say ‘give us a break’20 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Peter Michael And Shannon Power

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State helps put some zip in step of project group20 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Anika Hume

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Skytrans altruism will be missed20 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Scott Forbes

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SHOW US THE MONEY20 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Peter Michael

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Airport numbers up20 Jan 2015Otago Daily Times, Dunedin , General News

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Tourism is in poll position20 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News

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Tourism leaders demand 'show us the money or votes walk'20 Jan 2015Courier Mail, Brisbane, General News, Peter Michael

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Confusion reigns over Cape flights

Rex wants to fly its Saab 340 jets around Cape York, but is facing red tapeissues and won't commence services until mid-March.

By Matt Nicholls

FLIGHTS to remote communitiesin Cape York are still up in the airfollowing the collapse of Skytrans.

While the state government hasenlisted West Wing Aviation to coverthe routes on an interim basis, therehas been no confirmation that thecharters will continue after this week.

Aurukun Shire Council chief ex-ecutive Bernie McCarthy said it wasexpected that the current arrangementwith West Wing would be extendedby the government, but that was yetto be confirmed.

"At the moment we only haveflights confirmed up until this Friday,"he said.

Two airlines - Regional Express(Rex) and Hinterland Aviation - havecommitted to serving parts of theCape, but are waiting on approvalfrom the Civil Aviation Safety Au-thority.

Rex has indicated that it wouldfly a direct route from Cairns toAurukun twice a week on Tuesdaysand Thursdays.

But Mr McCarthy said that wouldnot be accepted by the community.

"To go from five days a week totwo days wouldn't be reasonable,"he said.

"Tuesday and Thursday are theroute's quietest days.

"We need Monday and Fridayflights at a minimum."

Rex also released a route from Cairns to Edwards Riverand Kowanyama, operating Monday, Tuesday and Fridays,as well as a Cairns-Bamaga flight on Monday, Wednesday,Thursday and Fridays.

Hinterland Aviation has announced it will fly from Cairnsto Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama, giving the Kowanyamatwo airlines to chose from if both Rex and Hinterland gainCASA approval.

Coen and Lockhart River have yet to gain interestedfrom an airline.

It's believed Rex is conducting studies at the respectiveairstrips to determine whether its aircraft are suitable forlanding and takeoff.

Rex said it would have started its Cape operations by theend of the month, but blamed the Skytrans administratorsfor the delay.

The airline's general manager of network strategy WarrickLodge said CASA had an emergency mechanism knownas a charter substitution arrangement which would allowRex to obtain regulatory approval to commence regular airservices within a week.

"The charter substitution arrangement requires a sign-offby the Skytrans administrator as a formality and it does notcarry any liability, risks or responsibility for the defunctoperator and its administrator," Mr Lodge said.

"Unfortunately the administrator has refused to cooperatein signing off on the charter substitution arrangement, in spiteof an offer of full indemnity by Rex and representations madeby the Department of Transport and Main Roads."

"It is disappointing that the Skytrans administrator haschosen to leave the affected Cape communities high and dryat a time when these remote communities are being cut offby the wet season."

As a result of needing CASA approval, Rex said it wouldnot be able to fly into the Cape until mid-March.

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Western Cape Bulletin, Weipa QLD14 Jan 2015, by Matt Nicholls

General News, page 6 - 641.00 cm²Regional - circulation 1,350 (----F--)

ID 363061297 PAGE 1 of 1

Tourism chiefs say ‘give us a break’in key electoratesPETER MICHAEL ANDSHANNON POWERTOURISM leaders yesterdaydemanded the LNP detail itspolicy for the $27 billion-a-year tourist industry, or risk arevolt at the polls.

Latest figures, in a snapshotof the Sunshine State, show asmany as 20 tourism-depend-ant electorates hang in the bal-ance.

Nine out of 10 voters ratetourism as a key electoralbattleground.

“A vote for tourism is a votefor jobs,’’ said QueenslandTourism Industry Councilchief Daniel Gschwind.

“Queensland’s tourismeconomy is beautiful today,but it can be perfect tomorrow.

“At a time when the resour-ces sector is on a slowdown,this is when the next govern-ment can crank up tourism.’’

He welcomed the ALPpledge for an extra $40 millionto tourism promotion and $100million to protect the GreatBarrier Reef but questionedwhy the LNP was yet topublicly unveil its future tour-ism policy.

Cairns, Barron River andCook are among the top eight

electorates with the highestintensity of tourism employ-ment, with some on a knife’sedge ahead of the January 31ballot.

Tourism minister JannStuckey, who campaigned inBarron River yesterday withMichael Trout, said the LNPhad in the past three years pro-vided an additional “35-plusmillion dollars” to what was inthe Bligh government’s tour-ism budget.

When asked whether theLNP would match Labor’s $40milllion pledge, she said theOpposition was playing“catch-up” after neglecting theindustry.

Tourism Tropical NorthQueensland chief executiveAlex de Waal has urged bothparties to “move past the rhet-oric” and make a commitmentto tourism.

He said the only tourism-related election promise hadbeen Labor’s $40 million forthe Great Barrier Reef but it

had been unclear whether thatwould be an annual amount.

“Currently TTNQ’s budgetis in realm of $100 mil; we needto increase over the next fouryears, so is Labor committingto $400 million over the next

four or does it mean more?What is the base?” he said.

“We need to know what isthe commitment on an annualbasis from parties.

“We don’t have really haveclarity of what’s being commit-ted; that’s critical for the com-munity to understand,minimum $100 million peryear.”

Tourism accounts foralmost 240,000 jobs, about51,000 businesses, and is nowworth $27.8 billion a year toQueensland, according to thelatest findings in the Queens-land Tourism Business Count& Employment Atlas.

The Atlas also includes adetailed map that shows thescale of jobs and businessesdependent on tourism in everystate electorate.

Marry Osmond, chiefexecutive of the nation’s peakbody Tourism and TransportForum, said the “numbers areclear”.

“We are calling on both par-ties to recognise tourism as thejobs powerhouse of the stateand ensure the industry is ad-equately supported,’’ Ms Os-mond said.OUR SAY PAGE 18

We don’t havereally have

clarity of what’s being committed;

that’s critical for the

community tounderstand

T O U R I S M T R O P I C A L N O R T H Q U E E N S L A N D

C H I E F E X E C U T I V E A L E X D E W A A L

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Peter Michael And Shannon Power

General News, page 10 - 1,097.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363165356 PAGE 1 of 2

UP UP AND AWAY: Queensland’s Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and Member for Barron River Michael Trout with Cairns Adventure Park owner Steve Collins, who is all strapped in and ready to go. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Peter Michael And Shannon Power

General News, page 10 - 1,097.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363165356 PAGE 2 of 2

State helps putsome zip in stepof project group

ANIKA HUME

TOURISM Minister Jann Stuckey dropped by Cairns Adventure Park yesterday to throw her support behind a zippy new tourism project made possible by legislation changes that have its owners flying high.

Ms Stuckey joined incumbent Barron River MP

Michael Trout and park co-owner Steve Collins for a squizat the skyline from the top of the range in Aeroglen, on partof the site Mr Collins plans toturn in to an adventurewonderland.

The park development,based on a 4.3ha hang glideroperation site, will includefour 350m parallel zip lines, achairlift and multi-person zip

ride options, plus a giant swing and free-fall experiences.

Development applicationshave been submitted to Cairns Regional Council, with assessment likely to take six months.

But Mr Collins said none ofit would have progressed without the LNP government’s adjustments to legislation, which helped

resolve land tenure issuesbetween the state and counciland grant him a 20-year leaseof the site.

Ms Stuckey commendedthe lobbying of Mr Trout tomake the necessary changeshappen so that Cairns wouldsoon have an exciting neweco-adventure project in the

city.“If you heard the test

dummy on the zip line rush past, you too would agree that visitors are going to be very keen to try this out,” she said.

Mr Trout said the government’s planning department had been instrumental in negotiating a deal for the park site, and the result would be “a new type of adventure added to the Far North playground”.

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Anika Hume

General News, page 10 - 133.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363165363 PAGE 1 of 1

Skytrans altruism will be missedSCOTT FORBES

THE fallout from the collapseof Skytrans could continue tohurt Cairns for years to comefollowing revelations thatRegional Express (Rex)donates twice as much topolitical parties as it does thecommunities it services.

Rex’s annual report for theyear to last June showed thecompany contributed less than$200,000 to sponsorships andcommunity projects across itsnetwork, which covers theeastern states and South Aus-tralia.

By comparison, Skytransdonated between $500,000and $1 million annually in theFar North alone.

Rex won’t match the spend-ing of Skytrans. “Rex willsupport the communities ofthe regulated routes in thesame manner and to the sameextent Rex has supported thecommunities of the other partsof our network,” a Queenslandspokeswoman said.

Searches of the most recent

Australian Electoral Commis-sion donations records showRex made two donations total-ling $95,700 to the federalNationals, $40,000 to thefederal Liberal Party and$250,000 to the ALP.

It made Rex one of the big-gest political donors of 2013(the last reporting year); thecompany gave half that to thecommunities it serves.

In contrast, Skytrans invest-ed in excess of $5 million intothe Far North community inthe seven years before its

collapse through in-kind andcash sponsorships.

Company owners SimonWild and Shelley Evans-Wildattended political eventsstaged by the LNP and ALP asmembers of the businesscommunity, but their companydidn’t make political dona-tions.

Through their companythey supported more than 250organisations, schools andsporting teams throughendorsements and subsidies.

Skytrans had sponsoredNQ Rescue, Mount Isa Rodeo(roughly $20,000), the North-ern Pride rugby league team(roughly $80,000) and wasnaming rights sponsor thatkept the Taipans alive througha $2 million commitment.

When the Governmentaxed the “Bush to Boarding”program to subsidise flights forregional students and theirfamilies, Skytrans stood in.

When the Governmentscrapped the “Return to Coun-try” program that took itiner-ants off the streets of Cairnsand returned them home forthe sake of their mental health,Skytrans flew in to help.

The company even flewrelatives of the Murray St trag-edy to Cairns from Bamaga.

Apunipima Cape YorkHealth Council could flyhealth-related freight for freeand would transport fresh fruitand vegetables to remotecommunities.

The company collapsed onJanuary 2, two weeks after theGovernment awarded lucra-

tive aviation contracts to Rex.

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Scott Forbes

General News, page 9 - 235.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363164765 PAGE 1 of 1

Pict

ure:

BR

IAN

CA

SSEY

TOURISM leaders yesterday demanded the LNP details its policy for the $27 billion-a-year tourist industry — or risk a revolt at the polls. Cairns, Barron River and Cook are among the top eight electorates with the highest intensity of tourism employment — with some on a knife’s edge ahead of the January 31 ballot. Stephanie Riopelle and fellow Sailaway deckhand Greg Hoare, 22, (pictured) are among nearly a quarter of a million workers — and voters — who depend on tourism for a livelihood. FULL STORY PAGES 10-11

INDUSTRY CHIEFS PUT HEAT ON LNP

SHOW US THE MONEY

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Peter Michael

General News, page 1 - 1,209.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363165336 PAGE 1 of 2

Industrysustains Far North economyPETER MICHAEL

STEPHANIE Riopelle quither job as a banker to work intourism.

“It’s my dream job,’’ said the32-year-old deckhand.

“I was sick of sitting behinda desk. I wanted a job that Iwould wake up to every dayand love doing.’’

Ms Riopelle, a rescue diver,now takes tourists to the GreatBarrier Reef on luxury cata-maran Sailaway V out of thePort Douglas.

The former banker and fel-low deckhand Greg Hoare, 22,are among nearly a quarter of amillion workers – and voters –who depend on tourism.

Tourism Port Douglas andDaintree executive officerTara Bennett said reef andrainforest tourism made up 80per cent of the local economy.

“We’re serious when we saytourism is our lifeblood. Welive and breathe it,’’ she said.

“It is a big deciding factorfor many voters in this part ofthe world.

“The mining boom has beenthe focus for so long. But tour-ism is the pot of gold and it issustainable in the long term.’’

SPLASH: Stephanie Riopelle loves working in tourism. Picture: BRIAN CASSEY

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015, by Peter Michael

General News, page 1 - 1,209.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363165336 PAGE 2 of 2

Airport numbers upSTAFF REPORTER

MORE than 1.3 millionpassengers visitedQueenstown Airport duringthe past calendar year, up8.3% on 2013.

The airport's monthlystatistics shows two-thirdsof the 1,320,731 passengerscame from transtasmanservices.

The total number ofpassengers for Decemberwas 128,735, an increase of16.3% on December 2013.

International passengerslast month were up 34.4% to32,237 compared withDecember 2013.

The increase was helpedby Jetstar's thrice-weeklyGold Coast service, which

began on December 13, andan increased summer flightschedule during the month,with up to eightinternational flights a dayover the Christmas holidayperiod.

There were an additional35 international landingsfor the month comparedwith December 2013.

Domestic passengerscontinued double-digitgrowth, up 11.3% for themonth, due to an "up-gauging" of aircraft as morejets were brought intoWellington andChristchurch routes, alongwith increased loadingsacross all domesticservices.

Average loadings for past

month were 86% comparedwith 82% in December 2013.

Private jet landings alsoincreased to 30, up 11.1%on December 2013, andprivate jet parking was atcapacity betweenDecember 23 and January1.

• The inauguralQueenstown InternationalMarathon contributed to anincrease in guest nights inOtago for November,Statistics New Zealandsays.

National guest nights forthe month increased by5.9% —the eighthconsecutive month ofincreases.

South Island guest nightsincreased by 8.1% overall

and Otago was the mainregional contributor.

Agency acting businessindicators managerTehseen Islam said Otago'sincrease was boosted bythe inaugural sold-outmarathon which drew afield of 6000 competitors,along with support crews,to the resort.

The CommercialAccommodation Monitorshows Queenstown guestnights for the nightincreased 14.8% onNovember 2013, from216,640 to 248,706.

International guestnights in the resort rose14.9% to 168,893, whiledomestic guest nightsincreased 14.5% to 7981.

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Otago Daily Times, Dunedin20 Jan 2015

General News, page 10 - 182.00 cm²Metro - circulation 36,611 (MTWTFS-)

ID 363174283 PAGE 1 of 1

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tourism is in poll position IT IS no surprise that regional tourism bosses

have called for the industry to be placed frontand centre of the election campaign.It is the commercial pillar of the city, our

main international selling point and an industry that employs thousands of people across the entire region.

Tourism industry bosses met in Brisbane yesterday and have now asked for answers from both sides of the political fence as to what they will do to enhance the sector.

With the importance of the industry and thecurrent levels of youth unemployment in the Far North, it is a fair question to ask.

Obviously, during elections, every sector is asking for its share of the pie. But as shown by a recent poll, three local electorates – Cairns, Barron River and Cook – are in the balance and industry experts have suggested tourism action could be a carrot for voters.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland boss Alex de Vaal has called for a minimum $100 million investment a year in the local industry and more of a focus on China.

Given the growing number of Chinese tourists to the region, the request is understandable.

Unsurprisingly Aquis is the pinnacle of the plans as currently one of the biggest tourism developments in the world.

Neither side has committed to fast-trackingthe project which continues to leave the entire region in limbo.

Much of the shine has disappeared off the mining sector in the last 12 months, despite being a huge employer, and tourism advocates say the longevity of their industry makes it a sure bet which should get the funding it deserves.

The purse strings of both parties remain in hand and the tourism dollar could be the difference.

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD20 Jan 2015

General News, page 18 - 132.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 363164562 PAGE 1 of 1

Tourism leaders demand ‘show us the money or votes walk’PETER MICHAEL

TOURISM leaders yesterdaydemanded the LNP detail itspolicy for the $27 billion-a-year industry – or they willlose their support at the polls.

Latest figures, in a snapshotof the Sunshine State, show asmany as 20 tourism-depend-ant electorates hang in thebalance.

Nine out of 10 voters ratetourism as a key electoralbattleground.

“A vote for tourism, is avote for jobs,’’ said Queens-land Tourism Industry Coun-cil chief Daniel Gschwind.

“Queensland’s tourismeconomy is beautiful today,but it can be perfect tomorrow.

“At a time when the resour-ces sector is on a slow-down,this is when the next govern-ment can crank up tourism.’’

He welcomed the ALP

pledge for an extra $40 millionfor tourism promotion and$100 million to protect The

Great Barrier Reef but ques-tioned why the LNP was yet tounveil its tourism policy.

Cairns, Surfers Paradise,Barron River, Noosa, Cook,Mermaid Beach, Southportand Maroochydore are the topeight electorates with thehighest intensity of tourismemployment – with some on aknife’s edge ahead of theJanuary 31 ballot.

Tourism accounts for al-most 240,000 jobs, about51,000 businesses, and is now

worth $27.8 billion a year toQueensland, according to thelatest findings in the Queens-land Tourism Business Count& Employment Atlas.

Margy Osmond, CEO ofthe nation’s peak body Tour-ism and Transport Forum,said the “numbers are clear”.

“We are calling on bothparties to recognise tourism asthe jobs powerhouse of thestate and ensure the industryis adequately supported,’’ shesaid. “At a time when unem-

ployment in Queensland isamong the highest in the na-tion, when uncertainty in theresources sector is wreakinghavoc with the economy,tourism is creating jobs we canrely on.’’

The state’s mining boom ison a slow down – with reportstens of thousands of jobs willgo in coming decades – butstill employs 442,000 Queens-landers in a resources sectorworth $78 billion accountingfor one in every five jobs.

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Courier Mail, Brisbane20 Jan 2015, by Peter Michael

General News, page 9 - 140.00 cm²Capital City Daily - circulation 167,172 (MTWTFS-)

ID 363147109 PAGE 1 of 1