Regional airports to benefit

THE LNP has promised to bring international flights to regional tourism destinations.

LNP leader Tim Nicholls said, if elected, he would inject an extra $10 million into the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, and quarantine 40 per cent of the fund to bring flights to regional airports.

But Labor has dubbed the policy a “slap in the face” to Queensland’s tourism industry.

Mr Nicholls said he would ensure international flights did not just go to Brisbane.

“The LNP will ensure regional destinations such as Cairns, Townsville and the Whitsundays get their fair share of Attracting Aviation Investment funding,” he said.

“We will quarantine a minimum of 40 per cent of funding to ensure key destinations in Regional Queensland don’t miss out to competitors in the Southeast.

“Under my watch we certainly won’t see a repeat of a city being favoured over another like we saw when Annastacia Palaszczuk sold out Cairns over Brisbane on direct flights from mainland China.”

Last week Ms Palaszczuk announced a re-elected Labor Government would spend an extra $48 million on the flight attraction fund.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the LNP’s $10 million promise was an “absolute joke”.

“Tim Nicholls is short-changing Queenslanders with this laughable policy which demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge about the tourism industry and operators’ needs in Queensland.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind welcomed increased funding from both parties.

“Suffice to say we also strongly believe in regional strength of Queensland’s tourism industry,” he said.