Qld: Beattie to announce tourism and jobs packages in NQ

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2006
Qld: Beattie to announce tourism and jobs packages in NQ

BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie will return to Innisfail
tomorrow to remind the rest of Australia the cyclone-ravaged area is open for business.

Mr Beattie will announce a funding package to encourage tourists back to the area to
help north Queenslanders get back to work.

He said he was trying to help the tourism industry get over the hurdle of the category-five
Cyclone Larry that tore through Innisfail and surrounds on March 20.

"We want to send a message that it is back to business," Mr Beattie told reporters.

"A lot of people in this area, not just Innisfail but the whole area affected, are
depending on tourism.

"There is a lot of people in Cairns and elsewhere who are doing it tough because of
perceptions about the cyclone.

"We have to send a message that it is back to business."

Mr Beattie will meet members of the cyclone recovery taskforce, headed by Major General
Peter Cosgrove, during his one-day trip.

Meanwhile, federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, who met banana and canegrowers in
Innisfail today, has promised to write to Prime Minister John Howard to pass on farmers'
concerns over the Cyclone Larry relief package.

Mr Beazley wants Mr Howard to extend the wage subsidy scheme that is due to end in June.

Consideration should also be given to an exit scheme for banana growers who wanted
to leave the industry, he said.

"Banana growers want it (the subsidy) for 36 weeks, the cane farmers want it closer
to the conclusion of their season," Mr Beazley told ABC Radio.

AAP nt/ch/jm/nf

KEYWORD: LARRY

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