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Sunday 8 September 2002, Media Release

HOCKEY BLAMES NATIVE TITLE FOR TOURISM DOWNTURN

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council today criticised the Federal Minister for Tourism, Joe Hockey, for claiming that impact of Native Title has had a detrimental effect on the tourism industry.

Speaking on the ABC's World Today Program on September 3, the Minister said that, along with the September 11 terrorists attacks and the collapse of Ansett, infrastructure problems, including "the impact of Native Title", were responsible for the downturn in tourist numbers to Australia.

"These comments are just plain bizarre. What evidence does he have to support his claim that Native Title is having a detrimental affect on tourism?" said Rod Towney, Chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

"Research has shown that a majority of tourists want an Indigenous cultural experience when coming to this country. The huge popularity of places like Tjapukai Cultural Centre in Cairns are testament to this. If anything, Aboriginal people are of primary interest to most international tourists.

"When looking for reasons for the downturn in tourism, the Minister ignores the fact that Australia's reputation in the eyes of the world has been considerably damaged by the impact of policies of this Government, including our treatment of refugees and our refusal to sign the Kyoto Agreement.

"The idea that Indigenous people are in some way to blame for the tourism downtown is ridiculous. I would like to know if the Ministers comments about the impact of Native Title have the support of the Australian Tourist Commission."