- Committee will bring key Ministers together to drive new tourism investment in WA
- A new team within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, and Science and Innovation will be established to support the committee
- Focuses will include setting investment priorities and streamlining decision-making across Government
The State Government has today announced it has established a Tourism Investment Committee of Cabinet, bringing a renewed focus to one of Western Australia's most important industries.
The committee will be led by the Tourism Minister, with vital input from Ministers for the Environment, Planning, Culture and the Arts, Sport and Recreation and Regional Development.
Key focuses of the new committee will include:
- providing strategic guidance and oversight of all major tourism attractions and infrastructure investment proposals, including establishing key Government priorities;
- strengthening collaboration and coordination across agencies to drive timely delivery of approvals through Government processes;
- identifying and removing barriers to tourism investment;
- investigating potential legislative reforms to elevate and expedite Government approvals and investment decisions; and
- identifying new and existing ministerially endorsed tourism infrastructure investment projects.
The committee will be supported by a new team within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, and Science and Innovation, which will be dedicated to working with industry to identify new projects, develop investment pathways, and action priority decisions of Cabinet.
The dedicated team will also include seconded subject matter experts from various regulatory and delivery agencies on an as-needed basis.
The tourism industry generates billions of dollars for the Western Australian economy each year and directly employs nearly 100,000 workers.
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Tourism is one of Western Australia's most important industries - and our Government recognises there is a need for better coordination across Government to ensure we are capitalising on the incredible potential we have.
"There are a number of Government agencies and portfolios that have key decision-making roles when it comes to delivering tourism projects and investment, and this new committee will allow us to drive better coordination and overcome known barriers.
"To support the new committee, we will be establishing a dedicated team within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, and Science and Innovation - whose only responsibility will be to work with industry to identify new projects, develop investment pathways, and action the priorities of the new committee.
"By providing a more attractive and streamlined environment, with faster approvals processes, we can open up development opportunities, secure more investment in WA tourism, and grow our economy in the years ahead."
