Senator PARER (11.56 a.m.) —I know this is not Senator Crowley's area, although she is handling the bill and she has her written instructions, but it would be interesting for her to consider her own state, as she could compare places like the Hunter Valley or the Yarra Valley in Victoria. There is a host of operations in those places which, on their own, are not capable of marketing themselves. The great vineyard areas of South Australia, the Hunter Valley and others have the opportunity to join with accommodation places to market their particular product. This is a reason for aggregation.

  I note the estimated cost given by the minister, but the tourism industry is a classic economic industry. It is one into which very few other industries in the world fit. It is an industry in which, if the money is spent, there is a return made. An estimate has been made that for every dollar spent on the promotion of tourism—and this is not my estimate; I think it is the estimate of a learned man from Monash University or somewhere—there is a $32 return to this country, which is an incredible amount. So we cannot really weigh it up in the way the minister has.

  Another point I want to make is that, if they are successful in attracting tourists, for every 17 tourists that come into this country another Australian is employed. Another interesting fact is that every tourist who comes to Australia spends something like $400 on indirect taxes to government. So the potential benefits to this country are great. It is a massive marketing exercise. Under this amendment—as I mentioned earlier, and as supported by Senator O'Chee and Senator Spindler—this is just another way in which operators who would not normally have the ability to participate in encouraging people from around the world to come and visit our country and see what it has to offer will now be able to do so.

  Amendment agreed to.