**Exclusive** Minister Ferguson rejects call for tax break for holidaying in Australia – negative industry reaction.
Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson was a speaker at last week’s ATEC 2102 Symposium and you can hear what he said by clicking on the video box below.
He was also a panel member with tourism industry leaders, Anthony Hayes, CEO Tourism Queensland; Peter Lloyd, Executive Director, Quadrant Australia and Robbie Cooke CEO of wotif, mining industry leader Michael Roche, Chief Executive, Queensland Resources Council to consider the prospects and opportunities for these two key industries, mining and tourism to collaborate for better economic outcomes.
This was also an opportunity for two industries that have predominantly been seen as competitors to think creatively about how to benefit from each other’s activities and you can see and hear this exciting discussion by clicking on the Panel Discussion video boxes below.
It appears that Minister may have made an error, judging by the delegates’ reaction, when asked from the floor by text, if the government would consider a tax break for Australians taking their holidays in Australia, which he rejected immediately, replying that he would not take that to cabinet as Australians already received 17.5% leave loading every year. This attracted a noisy response from the delegates, with the suggestion being that he was incorrect.
I don’t know if he is correct or not, perhaps someone can tell me, but nevertheless, isn’t that something that employers have to pay not the government?
In any case, please let me know and to hear the Panel Discussions, please click on the video boxes below.
Martin Ferguson Speech
Panel Discussion Part One
Panel Discussion Part Two
John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent on location from the ATEC Symposium 2102
I am work for a hotel and have been on a salary for the past 6 years, in this time I have never been paid leave loading. Minister Ferguson is probably referring to some additional perk he is entitled to.