Good morning, Matilda Boseley here with you to get through the last dying gasps of the week.
At least in the political landscape, the federal government’s tourism rescue package is still the hot topic of conversation.
Yesterday prime minister Scott Morrison announced $1.2bn dollars would be dedicated to providing half-priced plane tickets to a number of popular tourist destination in an attempt to bolster the travel sector as jobkeeper ends.
Morrison has rejected claims the government favoured Coalition and marginal seats when choosing these destinations, labelling opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s accusation that southern Tasmania had been ignored because it was a safe Liberal seat as “absurd”.
It’s ridiculous. I mean, the northern parts of Tasmania is the regional part of the state which needs that additional support…
We already have lots of flights going into Hobart.
The list released yesterday morning was just an “initial” list, Morrison says, with the government already adding Darwin (a Labor stronghold) later on Thursday.
But it doesn’t look like their troubles are over just yet, with Victorian leaders saying they have been short-changed after only receiving one (kinda weird) half-priced destination in the scheme.
Avalon airport was chosen, but it isn’t exactly in the middle of a tourism hub. It’s only an hour out of Melbourne, services the industrial city of Geelong, and while it would help funnel tourists down the Great Ocean Road, acting premier James Merlino says that won’t be enough.
It’s like they are looking at the Melbourne and Sydney markets and using them as the source for markets across the rest of the country. It is not fair, and we are disappointed…
You only have to look at the numbers. Five in Queensland, three in Tassie, two in the Northern Territory, just one in Victoria. This is not a great outcome for tourism operators, other than those who will be serviced by flights to Avalon.
Now the other important thing happening today is the WA state election entering its final day, with opposition leader Zak Kirkup insisting he has no regrets, despite the Liberal’s almost guaranteed defeat.
This could also spell the end of Kirkup’s short-lived political career after the 34-year-old has vowed to walk away from politics if he loses his ultra-marginal seat of Dawesville at Saturday’s state election.
We’ve done everything we can and will continue to work incredibly hard to get out there…
It takes a toll but I promise you it is worth it for the people of Western Australia so that they understand exactly what it might mean if Labor gets total control and total power.
Uttering the phrase “we’ve done everything we can” in the dying hours of an election campaign is probably not a good sign, to be honest.
Well, with that why don’t we jump into the day!
If there is something you reckon I’ve missed or think should be in the blog but isn’t, shoot me a message on Twitter @MatildaBoseley or email me at matilda.boseley@theguardian.com.