Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027

Mr SMALL (Forrest—Opposition Whip) (17:22): It's interesting to note that the government's first contribution here was all about boosting their expenditure—nothing to mention about the cuts in this budget. Representing a region like mine, home to the Margaret River wine region, it's interesting that in the European Union free trade agreement the government has sold out Australian producers and their right to export their wine as prosecco, surrendering the name to EU producers after a 10 year phase-out, which is clearly a blow-off for the Australian producers who currently export Australian prosecco.

Not only is this a slap in the face for Australian producers, to add insult to injury, the Minister for Social Services was on social media promoting the EU free trade agreement and celebrating access to cheap European wine and champagne. I don't know about you, but I'd put the quality wine of Margaret River up against any in the world, let alone just in Australia.

I don't think it's worth celebrating on behalf of a government that portends to represent regional Australia. It's such a slap in the face. Producers who export Australian prosecco now face a forced transition away from the name that they've built their export businesses on, and I'd like to know why.

Additionally, it's extremely important to the south-west of WA that organisations like Tourism Australia are well funded and well resourced to ensure that 'Brand Australia' is on point internationally and attracting tourism to our shores. Shortly after international borders reopened after COVID, as one of its first acts, Labor cut $35 million from Tourism Australia at the exact moment that we needed to be shouting to the world that we were open again, competing again and ready to welcome tourists back to our country—pockets full of cash with lots to spend it on.

In 2026, the visitor economy is still not back to where it needs to be. Total international visitation remains below 2019 levels, and genuine holidaymakers—the sorts of people who fill hotels, book tours, hire cars, visit attractions and, importantly, spend money at cellar doors and otherwise keep our regional communities afloat, are still at less than 90 per cent of the 2019 levels.

So here we go again—another Labor budget and more cuts to Tourism Australia. Indeed, this budget exposes some $50 million in reductions for Tourism Australia over the forward estimates. Again I'd like to know why.

This is a time when international holidaymakers still have not recovered, as I said. The fuel crisis is hurting travel confidence as Australian families find it more and more difficult and, indeed, more and more expensive to get out into the regional parts of Australia. And so this cancellation, this cut, is sending exactly the wrong signal.

In 2026-27 alone, Tourism Australia's total expenses are $15.1 million lower than the government itself forecast in last year's budget. The most concerning cut, though, is to Tourism Australia's demand-building work. This is the core function that gets people on planes, fills hotel rooms, supports the aviation recovery and drives visitors back to regional Australia—like my part in south-west WA.

That funding is down by almost $42 million over the comparison period. Again I'd like to know why, because my constituents, who are doing it tough being ignored by this government, are now staring down the barrel of budget cuts at the worst possible time for a regional economy like mine. It seems to me that the government cannot continue to credibly claim that it supports tourism, that it supports regional Australia, while continuing to cut the very programs that are designed to drive demand and convert it into bookings and businesses for those small and family owned businesses who rely on tourists coming to our part of the world and spending up big.

This is a real reduction in the resources available to sell Australia to the world. It means less capacity to compete in key international markets, less marketing firepower, fewer partnerships and weaker support for regional Australia. And again I'd like to know why.