WA tourism industry reeling at Hames resignation and says strong leader needed
The WA tourism industry says it is still reeling after Kim Hames was forced to give up the tourism portfolio.
The deputy Premier, who is also the Health Minister, was forced to give up tourism after he admitted accidentally claiming more than $1,000 in accommodation allowances he was not entitled to.
The Australian Hotels Association's WA CEO, Bradley Woods, says it does not come at a good time for the industry.
He says the state is more reliant on the tourism industry than it has been before, and the portfolio needs a strong leader.
"This is a real surprise and a very disappointing surprise for the industry," he said.
"Dr Hames was a highly respected, well regarded minister, certainly recognised as the best we've had in the last 10 years.
"It's very disappointing that he's had to resign and we think it's certainly a step back for the tourism sector.
"Over the last ten years, he's probably been the best tourism minister we've had in supporting and promoting Western Australia to interstate and international visitors."
The Tourism Council of WA's CEO, Evan Hall, also says it is very disappointing.
"There's been this unnecessary campaign that Hames couldn't handle both portfolios which we had never seen any sign of at all," he said.
"He had achieved some good results in what is a very tough time for the industry.
"There are 90,000 jobs across Western Australia that depend on the performance of the tourism industry and he was a minister who understood that."
Mr Hall says Dr Hames was one of the best ministers he has worked with.
"We don't know why this has happened, I guess it's not our decision to make, but Dr Hames had been a very good tourism minister," he said.
"Right now is a crucial time for tourism, mining is tapering off, the Australian dollar is falling, it's the time for us to start recovering and get those jobs back."
Mr Hall says there is more to the state's economy than digging holes in the ground.
"We're obviously looking for another minister who can deliver a tourism industry that is responsible for almost as many jobs as the mining sector, and probably within two years time will be creating more jobs than what the mining sector does," he said.
"What's crucial now is that there is an equally capable person who is steering the tourism industry over the next couple of weeks."
Mr Woods agrees that a senior person must take on the role.
"We're certainly looking for a minister, if not the Premier, who can handle the tourism portfolio with a high degree of respect and recognition from their counterparts interstate, and when they're advocating the benefits of Western Australia internationally as well," he said.
"Given the timing of this unfortunate resignation from the portfolio we're very keen for it to be resolved quickly but we do appreciate that it takes time for the Premier to consider the best options for the role."
The Premier will take on the portfolio temporarily and the industry wants assurances a senior minister will take over from him.
Meanwhile, there has been a positive response to Dr Hames retaining his health portfolio.
The Australian Medical Association's Richard Choong says he is pleased Dr Hames remains as the Health Minister.
"He's always done a good job and I'm sure he'll continue to do a good job," he said.
Source: ABC News, 23 July 2013
