Mr ROBB (Goldstein—Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his question. It is a bit ironic. Labor has absolutely no credibility when it comes to tourism—none whatsoever. What did they do when they had responsibility for tourism? They increased tourism taxes—a 45 per cent increase in the passenger charge. They introduced a carbon tax—$115 million, not much different to the $106 million that Qantas has had to incur under a Labor Party carbon tax. There was a 12 per cent reduction in profits because of the carbon tax to the tourism industry alone last year. They reduced funds for Tourism Australia. Our capacity to market effectively on international markets was reduced. The ability for Qantas to take advantage of international visitors was undermined by the Labor Party because they reduced the budget for Tourism Australia. They have also increased penalty rates, which has crippled so much of the tourism industry in Australia. Of the 412,000 jobs that were lost in small business, many have been in the tourism sector. Also they have strangled visa access— Mr Albanese: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This was not a general question about— The SPEAKER: What is the point of order? Mr Albanese: 'Give us a few minutes about tourism'— The SPEAKER: What is the point of order? Mr Albanese: It goes to relevance. It is a specific question about Qantas— The SPEAKER: The member particularly directed his question to the minister for tourism, which is part of the minister's portfolio. Clearly, he wanted an answer couched in tourism terms. The minister has the call. Mr ROBB: Absolutely correct, Madam Speaker. It is highly relevant to show to those opposite that their capacity to talk with any sense of credibility about tourism is impossible. The fact of the matter is: the coalition is looking to provide Qantas with freedom, remove the ownership shackles— Ms Chesters interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Bendigo will join the member for Griffith and remove herself under 94(a). The member for Bendigo then left the chamber. Mr ROBB: and scrap the carbon tax, because we want Qantas to survive in this country, to be able to take advantage of the tourism opportunities, which will be enormous in the next 30 years but only if we have viable airlines in Australia. Those opposite have shown that they are not interested in creating a market for tourism, much less looking after Qantas, which is one of the great tourism assets in this country. Those opposite need to understand: if locals want to capitalise on the tourism opportunities, we have to maintain the airline, the tourism asset, that is Qantas—that international brand name, that very successful brand name. If you do not move with us on these bills, scrapping the carbon tax and providing that the ownership shackles be removed from Qantas, then you are doing a disservice to tourism.