Mr MARTIN —My question is directed to the Minister for Sport and Tourism. Can the minister confirm that the budget papers indicate that the Australian Tourism Commission will receive an extra $14.7 million this year? Is it not a fact that this funding will come from a $3 increase in the departure tax and a new $50 visa charge, raising a total of $49.8 million this year? Given that over the budget period you will be raising from the tourism industry five times more tax than you will be spending, can the minister explain where the $35.1 million raised this year alone and the $244.2 million over four years will go? Will the minister admit that the election commitment reiterated by the finance minister yesterday of `no new taxes or increases in existing taxes' is now a non-core promise?

Mr ANDREW THOMSON (Sport and Tourism;Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Sydney 2000 Games) —I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. What is clear to those in the tourism industry is that this is the best budget the tourism industry has ever seen. This is the best government the tourism industry has ever known. I do not make those assertions lightly. Indeed, among the remarks made after the budget there was one made by a man called John Brown.

Mr Martin —On a point of order, Mr Speaker, my question was specifically about where the funding as outlined in the budget papers would be directed given that it is far in excess of the money that this minister claims is being directed to the tourism industry.

Mr SPEAKER —The minister will resume his answer and should respond specifically to the question.

Mr ANDREW THOMSON —What is clear is that this year's budget has seen an increase in the promotions budget of 13 per cent. Over four years that is $359 million to the Australian Tourism Commission. This is the highest appropriation ever made to the Tourism Commission by any government in the history of this nation.