Mr BOB BALDWIN (10:35 PM) —On 18 May, federal sport and tourism minister, the Hon. Andrew Thomson MP, visited my electorate of Paterson to meet with tourism operators and to announce formal details of the Commonwealth's promised $1 million infrastructure and marketing support package for the burgeoning Hunter tourism industry.

The $1 million to the Hunter Regional Tourism Organisation highlights the focus of the infrastructure funding towards building up the region as a legitimate stopover for international visitors and improving our growing reputation as a haven for quality and affordable eco-tourism pursuits.

For instance, the $100,000 to the Nelson Bay Dolphin Interpretative Centre expands the federal government's support of the soon to be constructed visitor information and tourist centre to a figure now of $300,000. And a similar $100,000 allocation to the Shortland Wetlands Centre is proof that eco-tourism is now very much the financial lifeblood of the Hunter tourism industry.

An investment of $250,000 will be made in the Hunter Wine Interpretive Centre planned for construction at Cessnock, $50,000 will be allocated to improve visitor information signage to better promote our region's tourist attractions, and a collective $160,000 initiative to bolster international and domestic marketing is a strategic pointer that the local tourism industry, whilst now generating close to $1 billion annually for the Hunter economy, has to become more visitor friendly. Tourism in the Hunter is not only well on the way to becoming one of our region's largest industry sectors; in terms of employment, one in nine of all new jobs created in our region now come directly under the tourism umbrella.

It was with great pleasure that I joined the minister and Great Lakes Mayor, John Chadban, in officially opening the long-awaited Bulahdelah Tourism and Visitors Information Centre. The opening of the Great Lakes Tourism Centre at Bulahdelah in effect completes the network of promotional centres in areas like Pacific Palms, Dungog, Hawks Nest, Nelson Bay and Maitland that now exist right around the Hunter, aiming to facilitate further exciting growth in tourist numbers and spending.

These centres have correlated a strong upturn in recorded growth in tourism spending within each community as holiday makers and passing travellers become successfully armed with the critical information of what to see and do and where to explore. With the majestic waterways of Port Stephens, the Barrington wilderness area, our world famous wineries and the unique physical environment, the Hunter has all the hallmarks to rival Cairns and the Top End as a must see regional destination for the some four million international visitors that annually travel to Australia.

So, Mr Speaker, you can understood why I was disappointed and a little dismayed to be alerted to comments made by the shadow tourism minister, the honourable member for Cunningham (Mr Martin), in the Illawarra Mercury last Wednesday, attributing the Hunter tourism industry to nothing more than possessing a bunch of wineries for prospective travellers.

Mr Kerr —You won't have to worry about that for much longer.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Denison was warned earlier today. I suggest he remain silent.

Mr BOB BALDWIN —The shadow minister, in comparing the respective potential of the Hunter, Blue Mountains and Wollongong tourism industries, assessed the exciting developments in the Hunter tourism sector in the following light. He said:

Our colleagues in the Hunter seem to be able to get their act together a little better and all they've got is the wine industry and not much else.

I have come to ask the question: how out of touch is Mr Martin when it comes to the Hunter tourism industry? What makes the shadow minister's foolish and silly remark all the more stunning is that Mr Martin was actually in the Hunter region on the day of the release to speak on—guess what? The potential of Hunter tourism. Yet Mr Martin flippantly dismisses and ignores the real growth and genuine dynamism that is occurring right across the Hunter on the tourism front, even when it is happening right under his own nose. When Stephen Martin visited Port Stephens last week, did he stop to think that over 700,000 visitors travelled to the water wonderland in the past year alone?

Mr Kerr —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order.

Mr SPEAKER —I trust the member for Denison has a point of order that is relevant.

Mr Kerr —I do, Mr Speaker. I would ask the member to refer to the member for Cunningham by his correct title.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member will resume his seat.

Mr BOB BALDWIN —When the member for Cunningham visited Port Stephens last week, did he stop to think that 700,000 visitors travelled to the water wonderland in the past year alone? Further, why would he dismiss out of hand the nationally acclaimed Morpeth Jazz Festival, which attracted thousands of visitors to Maitland's tourism jewel over the weekend?

The bottom line is that the member for Cunningham is a disgrace. I call on all members in the Hunter, including the member for Newcastle (Mr Allan Morris), who sits on his hands at all times, to do something about this and not suffer the embarrassment of having a shadow minister for tourism who does nothing for the Hunter.

Mr Leo McLeay —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The standing orders in the—

Mr BOB BALDWIN —Are you sober enough tonight?

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Paterson will remain silent. The member for Watson.

Mr Leo McLeay —We should not allow people to attack each other like this.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member for Watson will resume his seat. There is no point of order.

Mr BOB BALDWIN —Mr Speaker, the Labor tourism minister, the member for Cunningham, Steve Martin, certainly does not mince his words when it comes to the Hunter tourism industry, an economic centre now injecting some $856 million into our regional economy annually and creating one in nine of all new Hunter jobs. (Time expired)