Mr MARTIN(9.50 p.m.) —I thank the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade (Mr Tim Fischer) for his comments. I would be interested to know whether his comments are shared by his colleague the Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism (Mr Moore). We are talking about the tourism industry policy, which the coalition went to the last election with. We do not disagree with much of what the minister has said. We agree that the tourism industry is one of the most vital industries in this country and is probably now our largest export earner, which I said during the second reading debate, which I certainly said in a matter of public importance in this place some weeks ago, and which I may have said in the consideration in detail stage.

We do not dispute any of that. What we are saying to the minister is that we are not declining to give this bill a second reading at all. We think it is a good bill because, as he rightly pointed out, it was something which we on this side started. What we are con cerned about—and what we are trying to assist the government with—is that the government keep its promise. For a change, we are simply trying to help you keep your promise.

You trade on this question of honesty and integrity. The Prime Minister (Mr Howard) said, `I would much rather keep my promises than reduce the budget deficit.' Here is your chance. I noticed that when the honourable member for Perth (Mr Stephen Smith) was making his contribution a moment ago the honourable member for Capricornia (Mr Marek) was interjecting occasionally. He, along with many people in this building and certainly within this chamber at the moment, would know of the value of tourism to his own area and to North Queensland. He, I am sure, would know many of the 620 members of Tourism Council Australia or of the 30,000 affiliates which represent the diverse elements of the tourism and travel industry. Some of those would be located in his electorate.

What is he going to say to them when this bill goes through? I gather from what the Deputy Prime Minister was saying that you are not going to support our amendments. He will go back to his region and report—in his local newspaper, on WIN TV or on Prime and whatever else is up there—`Look, I know we went to the last election promising to extend the EMDG scheme to the tourism industry, but I'm sorry. No—well, yes, the opposition did move amendments to this which would have done that and which would have helped us out in delivering our policy, but we didn't support the amendments. We probably should have, but we didn't.' It was you on the other side that went to the election with that as a policy. We are just trying to help you out and you are going to turn around and vote it down. I cannot believe this.

Did the honourable member for Capricornia actually see what Senator Warwick Parer put out when he was representing the minister? Did you see it at the time?

Mr Marek —Often.

Mr MARTIN —I presume that you went to the people of Capricornia and said to them that tourism operators will be eligible to receive the full grant under the EMDG scheme.

You would have said that to your lot, surely. You would have been up there against Marjorie Henzell saying, `That terrible Labor Party; they have not extended the EMDG scheme to the tourism industry. But we will. We will give you the full 50 per cent.' Brother, here is your chance. When we go to the vote, we expect to see you with us, and we want to see the member for Dawson, who represents Mackay, and indeed the Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism, Mr Moore. He has got to be with us on this one. After all, he represents the tourism industry—I think he does; they tell me that they do not see a great deal of him. But that is another story for another day.

The minister and a number of other people in this place purport to represent tourism. They talk about how fabulous it is, about the number of jobs that are created in this country and their own electorates and so on. How can you then turn around and say, `We are not going to support what the opposition is putting up'? It is an extraordinary circumstance. The opposition is actually moving an amendment to get the government to put in place its own policy.

Normally we would be out there fighting because we would probably think it is not a real good idea. But we happen to agree with you now. We happen to think that this is the way to do it. It is a simple thing. It is only a matter of four separate little amendments that go to the schedule. It is easy to do. All you have to do is say aye when the Deputy Speaker puts the amendment. But I would guarantee from the way that they are looking at me and smiling that they are not going to do it. I do not think that they are going to do it. The Deputy Prime Minister just has that look in his eye.