The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Chief Executive Dianne Smith has congratulated the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Leader of the Labor Party, and Victorian Labor on their election to government.

"On behalf of our members across the state we look forward to the implementation of the following commitments that will benefit the tourism and events industry," Ms Smith said.

These include:

- Funding for Sovereign Hill’s “Blood on the Southern Cross” experience.

- Support for the Ballarat Station precinct upgrade including proposed hotel and convention centre.

- Investment in upgrades to Geelong’s Simonds Stadium, Geelong Performing Arts Centre and St Kilda’s Palais Theatre.

- Support to further develop the Grampians Peaks Trail.

- Funding to grow Victoria’s wine industry through increased cellar door visitation.

- Commitment to widen the Tullamarine Freeway.

- Commitments to apprenticeships and training to support the creation of a well-trained, job-ready tourism workforce. 

"We urge the new government to make progress on this agenda as a priority, given its significance to the Victorian economy and wider business community," Ms Smith said.

"VTIC looks forward to working with the new government to ensure that Victoria’s tourism industry can continue to offer exceptional visitor experiences, create thousands more jobs and achieve the ambitious targets detailed in Victoria’s 2020 Tourism Strategy."

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The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice. Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au  

VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone has congratulated Victorian Labor on its election to government.

Mr Stone said, "VECCI congratulates the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Leader of the Labor Party, and Victorian Labor on their election to government.

"Many of Victorian Labor’s pre-election commitments are consistent with VECCI’s recommendations and we call on the incoming Labor Government to build on Victoria’s strengths with responsible economic management and pro-business policies over the next four years.

"In this context, we look forward to the progression of the plan to remove 50 level crossings and other measures that will create 100,000 jobs over two years. The Labor Government’s commitment to the metro rail tunnel construction, Port of Melbourne privatisation and Tullamarine Freeway widening is welcomed by business.

"So too are the strong commitments to apprenticeships and training, given their role in creating a job-ready workforce. It is important that clear timelines are established to undertake the promised review of the vocational education and training system.

"We also look forward to the implementation of commitments to boost Victoria’s international engagement through expanding the inbound and outbound trade missions program and the establishment of new government business offices in South America, Singapore and Turkey.

"This agenda must be progressed as a priority given its significance to the Victorian economy and wider business community," Mr Stone said.

"In keeping with VECCI’s pre-election agenda, we will urge the new government to lift the payroll tax threshold from $550,000 to $850,000, in order to keep Victorian business competitive and support new job creation.

"VECCI looks forward to working constructively with the Labor Government and supporting business to capitalise on opportunities for growth in 2015 and beyond."

* The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential body for employers in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au 

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ILLEGAL tobacco use in Australia continues to grow with a new report revealing around one in every seven cigarettes consumed is illegal, exposing the fact that plain tobacco packaging has proved only a burden to retailers rather than encourage Australians to quit the habit.

Plain packaging has also lead to a shift from retailers who once regulated sales of legal product to an increasing amount of illegal unregulated sales.

The latest in a series of reports by KPMG LLP in the UK, Illicit Tobacco in Australia, shows that illegal tobacco use in the last 12 months has increased from 13.5% to 14.3% of total consumption.

Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the change to plain packaging has been a waste of retailers’ time and resources.

“According to the report, had that tobacco been sold legally, the Australian Government would have received an additional $1.2 billion in tobacco excise. Instead of paying tax to the Australian Government, criminals are profiting from this illegal tobacco trade at the expense of local law-abiding retailers who could keep tobacco out of the hands of minors.

"The ARA has long argued the change to plain packaging was an unnecessary burden for small to medium retailers, and it is now further evident that this initiative has had absolutely no effect.

“We are very concerned that illegal tobacco products are swamping the market, and this has only been made worse by plain packaging which has seen product move out of well-regulated legal distribution through retailers.

“The ARA will be making the point to the government that action needs to be taken to address the illegal tobacco trade. The government must consider how ever increasing regulation - whether on cigarette packaging or tax - creates additional incentives for tobacco smugglers. It's not only in their best interests but also in the best interests of Australian businesses,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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VICTORIA's peak tourism industry body today said that the industry is encouraged by the pre-election commitments from both major parties to grow tourism in 2015 and beyond.

"Support for key tourism infrastructure, the growth of cultural events and the development of industry skills is in keeping with our ongoing policy agenda and is welcomed by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)," said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

Major commitments include:

Key infrastructure

- The Coalition’s decision to expand the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), as well as to fund a feasibility study on a similar centre in Geelong.

"VTIC applauds the Coalition Government’s decision to expand MCEC, and urges Victorian Labor to echo this commitment for the significant benefit it will bring to Victoria’s business events and tourism sector,” said Ms Smith.

- Bipartisan support for the Tullamarine Freeway upgrade, which will improve reliability and cut travel times for visitors who rely on this crucial road. 

Attraction and experience marketing

- The Coalition’s funding commitment for the promotion of Victorian attractions and experiences to boost attendance from local, interstate and international visitors. International high growth markets such as China and South East Asia will be particularly targeted.

Workforce skill development

- Strong commitments to apprenticeships and training by both parties to support the creation of a well-trained, job-ready tourism workforce.

particularly supported is Victorian Labor’s commitment to reforming the vocational education and training system by improving VET regulation and undertaking a review of VET funding.

Cultural events and nature-based attractions

- Bipartisan support for the further development of the Grampians Peaks Trail to boost Victoria’s nature-based tourism credentials, and support for Sovereign Hill's Blood on the Southern Cross experience. 

"The Grampians Peaks Trail development will position Victoria as a key nature-based tourism destination, which will lead to significant job creation and economic benefit,” said Ms Smith.

- Victorian Labor’s commitment to investing in upgrading the iconic Palais Theatre and a Victorian Wine Tourism Strategy to grow regional tourism. 

- The Coalition’s pledge to create the Regional Live Music Strategy to boost medium sized events, its commitment to upgrade visitor facilities at Puffing Billy's Belgrave station and its continued support for the National Rhododendron Gardens in Olinda. 

Melbourne's reputation as the global sporting and cultural capital will also be further strengthened after government commitments to extend the Melbourne Grand Prix contract and host soccer's 2015 International Champions Cup Australia. Bipartisan support to upgrade the Junction Oval is also welcome.

Tourism could create nearly 9,000 additional jobs for Victoria over the next two years if the right policy settings are in place, according to VTIC research.

“As a growth sector in a rapidly changing economy, tourism has great job creation potential as it brings in visitors who spend money, which creates jobs and sustains communities,” said Ms Smith.

“We welcome both major parties’ commitments to progressing our key priorities this election.”

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The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice. Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au

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