City to gain from cash for events tourism

A LABOR Government would pump an extra $36 million into luring major events to Queensland and the Gold Coast, aimed at boosting tourism and jobs.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the pledge yesterday during her campaign weekend on the Glitter Strip and said it would “lock in” Queensland’s reputation as the country’s events capital.

Her Government had added $220m to the value of events in three years, she said, ticking off continuation of the GC600 motorsport race and TV’s glitzy Logies coming to the Coast in 2018.

The state’s annual events calendar all up was now worth $600m not including the $4 billion economic impact expected from the Commonwealth Games in April on the Gold Coast.

Funding support would also “empower” Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) to negotiate for annual events.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones said the Gold Coast was “punching above its weight when it comes to major events”.