Shadow Minister for Tourism Alyssa Hayden has slammed the Labor Government’s decision to strike a deal with an American-owned online travel agent as part of its $500,000 marketing blitz to encourage West Australians to book a staycation in Perth.
“The Premier tells people to shop locally and buy locally but if they want to go on holidays in the Perth city they have to book through an American online company. That is absolutely disgraceful and is yet another example of Labor snubbing West Australian businesses and West Australian workers,” Ms Hayden said.
“Why can’t people ring the hotels direct, to stop money going overseas?
“The Labor Government should also be doing everything it can to help West Australian travel agents, who they have abandoned this year.
“These travel agents have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have no bookings on the horizon and have had no support from the government.
“The Labor Government is the only state government in Australia that hasn’t implemented a small business grant program of up to $10,000 to help struggling small and family-run businesses who have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Labor have a Wonder Out Yonder campaign which encourages West Australians to explore our great State. They should be telling West Australians to support their local travel agents when they are booking their trips to Broome and the South-West.
“The government should be trying its utmost to help keep these local small and family run businesses open.
“WA has the second-worst unemployment rate in the nation and Labor continues to give away West Australian jobs. We have found more than $8 million in contracts which they have recently handed to interstate companies.
“It is outrageous that the Premier continues to ignore West Australian businesses during a pandemic – a time when they are most vulnerable. The Liberal Party’s priority at the next election will be local jobs for local people. We are committed to getting more West Australians back to work.”