With Christmas just around the corner and business counting on a bumper Christmas trading period, we are all hoping that covid restrictions, staff shortages and travel interruptions are a thing of the past. After 2 years of debilitating trading circumstances, surely Christmas ’22 will deliver optimism and certainty back to the Gold Coast as Australia’s No. 1 tourism destination.
Of ongoing concern is the high inflation rate we are experiencing with no end in sight for this rapidly rising digit. Obviously, the Reserve Bank is determined to reign in its escalation by the use of higher interest rates which have a direct cooling effect on consumer confidence and the bubbling property market. On top of this ballooning inflation, we have a world-wide economy under pressure with China, America and Britain showing painful economic performance indicators which add further fuel to a worsening world economic outlook not helped by the ongoing effect of Russia’s inexplicable assault on Ukraine.
Add to inflation the other crippling factor of cost-of-living blowouts due to poor government planning, weather disasters and false economic promises, it is no wonder that consumer confidence has taken an almighty hit. Despite all this negativity on the economic outlook, we still live work and play in the most desirable area in the world so I am confident that despite horrendous Government debt and flaws in nearly every Government service delivery area the Gold Coast will remain Australia’s premier tourist destination and provide a sound economic investment opportunity today and into the future.
Now, as Aussies are scrambling to head overseas again to Bali and countries beyond and the cruise ship industry takes off again, it is important that we concentrate our tourism promotions to other States and New Zealand to keep our domestic tourism numbers up over a difficult trading period ahead. That is why wonderful international events such as the Magic Millions Carnival are critical to attracting thousands of tourists to the Gold Coast. I am hoping the main construction work on Light Rail 3 starts near February next year as the last thing we need is traffic chaos on the Gold Coast Highway over our peak Christmas trading period.
Should you have any State issues you would like to discuss please feel free to contact my office on:
Tel: 5600 0100 / Email: Mermaid.Beach@parliament.qld.gov.au
You can also find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RayStevensMP.
Best wishes
Ray Stevens MP
State Member for Mermaid Beach
