FRI 20 FEBRUARY 2015

Mediaportal Report

The Gold Coast region will be pummelled by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. Disaster ...19 Feb 2015 7:32 AM4CRB FM, Gold Coast, 07:30 News

Duration: 0 min 52 secs • ASR AUD 43 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: V00060688883

The Gold Coast region will be pummelled by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. Disaster management officials are preparing for the saidcyclone whilst a Gold Coast Airport spokesperson says the flight cancellation will be made by the airlines and Translinkspokesperson says delays in the public transport network could occur.

Interview with Kate Jones, newly appointed Qld Tourism, Commonwealth Games and ...19 Feb 2015 8:45 AMABC Gold Coast, Gold Coast, Mornings , Nicole Dyer

Duration: 8 mins 1 sec • ASR AUD 2,848 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: V00060689417

Interview with Kate Jones, newly appointed Qld Tourism, Commonwealth Games and Education Minister to talk her new role.Jones talks about her priorities in meeting with Commonwealth Games and Tourism stakeholders. She says she brings withher one clear message that the Palaszczuk Government is committed to working with industry to drive Tourism growth.Compere mentions about some of the changes made by former Commonwealth Games Minister, Jann Stuckey. Jones sharesher views on changing elements. She says that she is keen to ensure that Gold Coast will be having the absolute bestCommonwealth Games. She says that at this stage she wants to get across all of the issues so to avoid making prematuredecisions. She explains the promise made by Labor that the Gold Coast will be having more input into the organisation of thegames. She says that for the new Qld Government her meeting with the stakeholders means that they want to ensure a senseof involvement amongst everybody in the Gold Coast community. She shares about the policy Labor has for fixing beaches.She says that the State Government will absolutely welcome Federal Government funding for beach replenishing.

Interviewees

Kate Jones, newly appointed Qld Tourism, Commonwealth Games and Education Minister

Interview with Tom Tate, Mayor, Gold Coast City Council to talk about the city's ...19 Feb 2015 9:15 AMABC Gold Coast, Gold Coast, Mornings , Nicole Dyer

Duration: 5 mins 57 secs • ASR AUD 2,114 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: V00060690561

Interview with Tom Tate, Mayor, Gold Coast City Council to talk about the city's preparations ahead of the forecasted badweather. Tate says that if people needs sand bags they can head on to the SES in Southport. Tate says that all heavymachineries have been deployed near the coast line as of the moment. Tate mentions that 52 calls have been recordedovernight and have attended to 51 jobs concerning the bad weather. Tate says that most of the concerns of the jobs crewshave attended to is experiencing trees brought down by high winds. Tate says that a scenario as of the moment is part of thedisaster management exercise they made last year. Tate shares some of the big learnings from the localised flooding the GoldCoast had. Compere plays an excerpt from her interview with Kate Jones, the newly appointed Qld Tourism, CommonwealthGames and Education Minister. Tate talks about his view on the discussion of Federal MP's about the one off payment in theevent that Gold Coast beaches are badly damage. Tate shares some of the things he would be raising to Minister Jones intheir lunch meeting today.

Interviewees

Kate Jones, newly appointed Qld Tourism, Commonwealth Games and Education Minister [excerpt]|Tom Tate,Mayor, Gold Coast City Council

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Compere says that plenty of inquiries about what is going on at the airport have reached ...19 Feb 2015 9:46 AMABC Gold Coast, Gold Coast, Mornings , Nicole Dyer

Duration: 0 min 46 secs • ASR AUD 218 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: V00060691375

Compere says that plenty of inquiries about what is going on at the airport have reached them following the severe weatherwarning. She reads a statement released by the Gold Coast Airport. She says that the statement reads that the airport is openand fully operational this morning. She also reads that passengers who are due to travel are being encouraged to contact theirairline directly to have the latest information regarding flights. She says that Gold Coast Airport will be providing updates ontheir Facebook and Twitter accounts. She adds that the airport also provides live flight information on its website.

Richard Wardle, Queensland weather services manager, says Tropical Cyclone Marcia ...19 Feb 2015 11:03 AMGold FM, Gold Coast, 11:00 News, Newsreader

Duration: 0 min 55 secs • ASR AUD 262 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: V00060693565

Richard Wardle, Queensland weather services manager, says Tropical Cyclone Marcia will bring rain to Gold Coast.Dangerous surf and beach erosion warnings are raised whilst Gold Coast Airport remains open and operational.

Interviewees

Mayor Tom Tate|Richard Wardle, Queensland weather services manager

Kate Jones, Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister, has met with tourism bosses ...19 Feb 2015 12:04 PMGold FM, Gold Coast, 12:00 News, Newsreader

Duration: 0 min 7 secs • ASR AUD 47 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: V00060693866

Kate Jones, Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister, has met with tourism bosses on the Gold Coast.

Also broadcast from the following 1 station

SEA FM Gold Coast (Gold Coast)

Huge swells have eroded some Gold Coast beaches, and people have been warned to ...19 Feb 2015 5:10 PMChannel 10, Brisbane, TEN Eyewitness News, Georgie Lewis

Duration: 2 mins 50 secs • ASR AUD 23,209 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: M00060697047

Huge swells have eroded some Gold Coast beaches, and people have been warned to stay out of the water. Beaches havebeen closed. Gold Coast City Council has set aside more than 60,000 tonnes of sand to help beaches that are damaged by thewaves. Gold Coast Airport will remain open for the moment. Council will update the public via social media if any roads areclosed due to flooding.

Interviewees

Tom Tate, Gold Coast Mayor|vox pops

Also broadcast from the following 7 stations

Ten Bundaberg (Bundaberg), Ten Cairns (Cairns), Ten Mackay (Mackay), Ten Rockhampton (Rockhampton), TenSunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast), Ten Toowoomba (Toowoomba), Ten Townsville (Townsville)

Kate Jones, new Qld Minister for Commonwealth Games and Tourism, has wasted no ...19 Feb 2015 5:35 PMABC Gold Coast, Gold Coast, 17:30 News, Newsreader

Duration: 1 min 2 secs • ASR AUD 110 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: V00060697376

Kate Jones, new Qld Minister for Commonwealth Games and Tourism, has wasted no time in keeping in touch with industryfigures on the Gold Coast. Jones has met with local tourism and Commonwealth Games officials this morning at SurfersParadise. Paul Donovan, Gold Coast Tourism Chairman, says the early meeting is welcome.

Interviewees

Kate Jones, Qld Minister for Commonwealth Games and Tourism|Paul Donovan, Chairman, Gold Coast Tourism

Queensland's new Commonwealth Games Minister, Kate Jones, has met with tourism ...19 Feb 2015 6:33 PMChannel 7, Brisbane, Seven News, Sharyn Ghidella and Bill McDonald

Duration: 0 min 47 secs • ASR AUD 16,359 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: M00060698034

Queensland's new Commonwealth Games Minister, Kate Jones, has met with tourism and sporting industry leaders on theGold Coast for her first official briefing in the new role. The Commonwealth Games, Tourism, Education, Major Events andSmall Business Minister has promised to hit the ground running and deliver an inspiring sporting event in 2018.

Interviewees

Kate Jones, Commonwealth Games Minister

Also broadcast from the following 9 stations

Seven Bundaberg (Bundaberg), Seven Cairns (Cairns), Seven Central (Alice Springs), Seven Mackay (Mackay),Seven Mt Isa (Mt Isa), Seven Rockhampton (Rockhampton), Seven Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast), SevenToowoomba (Toowoomba), Seven Townsville (Townsville)

COAST'S KATE EXPECTATIONS20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD, General News, Lucy Ardern Lucy

Page 6 • 534 words • ASR AUD 4,570Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 724.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Issues Press • ID:375037649

KATE Jones is used to holidaying on the Gold Coast. But during a fleeting visit to the state'ssecond-largest city yesterday she admitted that holiday was now over. Travelling down the M1 for the firsttime as Tourism, Commonwealth Games and Education Minister, the Ashgrove MP squeezed twofunctions into the three-hour trip. First stop was the top of the Q1 building in Surfers Paradise, wheretourism heavyweights were waiting on level 77 to hear how she was going to ensure the Gold Coastretained its crown as tourism capital.

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LABOR PUT ON NOTICE20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD, General News

Page 17 • 516 words • ASR AUD 3,686Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 584.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Issues Press • ID:375040404

It will be a testing three years for the Labor Party and the question is, what are its plans for the GoldCoast? A STORM is building inside the boardrooms and offices in what remains a politically conservativecity.

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Chief upbeat on economy20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Nick Dalton

Page 35 • 311 words • ASR AUD 1,031Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 232.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press •ID: 375018447

Positive outlook for Cairns industry THE boss of one of Australia's largest financial planning groupsbelieves the Far North can look forward to some economic glad tidings.

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MP's visit good sign for future20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD, General News

Page 30 • 382 words • ASR AUD 1,035Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 164.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Issues Press • ID:375039343

QUEENSLAND'S new minister for all things Gold Coast, Kate Jones, made an extraordinary gestureyesterday, journeying down the M1 to what many Labor colleagues probably deem "tiger country". It's anold political description for the Gold Coast, used by both sides back in the days of Russ Hinze, a previous"minister for everything", and a host of other Nationals and Liberal MPs who controlled all the local seatsthrough the Bjelke-Petersen era until the Fitzgerald inquiry.

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Bargains hurt hotels20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD, General News, Tony Raggatt

Page 38 • 349 words • ASR AUD 2,737Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 451.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press •ID: 375061419

Ongoing hot deals will break operators A GLOBAL tourism expert has questioned Townsville's hotel ratesprice war and the apparent apathy of its operators for failing to attend a major industry developmentconference.

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VICIOUS MARCIA STRIKES20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD, General News, Brian Williams

Page 1 • 612 words • ASR AUD 10,268Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 1,692.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press• ID: 375075827

CYCLONE Marcia has intensified into a super storm as it bears down on central Queensland. The storm isexpected to hit the coast near Shoalwater Bay this morning, potentially as a Category 5 cyclone packing295km/h wind gusts. Should Marcia build to a Category 5 cyclone, it will be only the fifth such storm tomake landfall in Queensland, the most recent being Yasi, which smashed the North in 2011.

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High hopes aviation fund will boost Cairns20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Anika Hume

Page 8 • 465 words • ASR AUD 2,569Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 578.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press •ID: 375017397

THE Far North has received its best hint yet that the new Labor Government is eyeing off the region as aprime place to splash some cash from the party's aviation tourism funding pool. Advance Cairns CEOMark Matthews was among just a handful of peak industry and business group chiefs from across thestate invited by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to a special economic address in Brisbane this week,where Cairns was singled out as being firmly in the sights of the new State Government as a possibleinvestment hub.

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Have a cuppa with Aquis20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Nick Dalton

Page 14 • 355 words • ASR AUD 938Photo: No • Type: News Item • Size: 211.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press • ID:375016014

Chamber to host public meeting A SPECIAL event for Aquis representatives to show their commitment tothe $8.15 billion project is to be held in Cairns in April.

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Plane to see style is on up20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Shannon Power

Page 14 • 207 words • ASR AUD 1,160Photo: Yes • Type: News Item • Size: 261.00 cm² • QLD • Australia • Company Press •ID: 375016020

WITH Qantas announcing stricter dress codes for passengers using its lounges, Far North fashionistasare encouraging locals to ditch the shorts and thongs. From April 1, Qantas will give a "friendly reminder"to its lounge guests that smart casual dress guidelines apply.

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Compere gives transportation updates saying the Jetstar flight from Sydney to the Gold ...20 Feb 2015 5:54 AMABC Gold Coast, Gold Coast, Breakfast , Trevor Jackson

Duration: 0 min 44 secs • ASR AUD 104 • QLD • Australia • Company Radio & TV • ID: V00060702414

Compere gives transportation updates saying the Jetstar flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast Airport has been cancelled whilethe Air New Zealand flight from Auckland will be delayed.

Kate Jones, Qld Minister for Tourism and the Commonwealth Games, has made her first ...20 Feb 2015 6:05 AMSEA FM Gold Coast, Gold Coast, 06:00 News, Newsreader

Duration: 0 min 17 secs • ASR AUD 101 • QLD • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: V00060701634

Kate Jones, Qld Minister for Tourism and the Commonwealth Games, has made her first visit to the Gold Coast since Labortook office this week. Jones met with local tourism and games bosses at the Q1 in Surfers where she announced Labor'scommitment to growing tourism on the Coast.

Also broadcast from the following 1 station

Gold FM (Gold Coast)

Auckland Airport lifts annual profit guidance as first half earnings rise 1.3%20 Feb 2015 7:30 AMNational Business Review

577 words • ASR AUD 465 • Internet • ID: 375166095

Auckland International Airport [NZX: AIA ], the country's major gateway, raised its expectations for annual profit after first-halfearnings rose 1.3 percent on increased passenger numbers and higher revenue from its retail and property divisions....Read on source website

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New Education, Tourism and Games Minister Kate Jones visited the Q1 for a meet and greet and (below) saying hello to Mayor Tom Tate.

Pictures: KIT WISE

LUCY ARDERN

LUCY.ARDERN@NEWS.COM.AU

KATE Jones is used to holi-daying on the Gold Coast.

But during a fleeting visitto the state’s second-largestcity yesterday she admittedthat holiday was now over.

Travelling down the M1for the first time as Tourism,Commonwealth Games and

Education Minister, the Ash-grove MP squeezed two func-tions into the three-hour trip.

First stop was the top ofthe Q1 building in SurfersParadise, where tourismheavyweights were waitingon level 77 to hear how shewas going to ensure the GoldCoast retained its crown as

tourism capital.Gold Coast 2018 Com-

monwealth Games chiefswere also there eager to meettheir new boss.

Ms Jones didn’t dwell onthe detail, four days into thejob. But she wowed the smallcrowd with talk of consul-

tation, growth and success.“The Palaszczuk Govern-

ment is committed to tourismgrowth and we understandthat can only be achieved inpartnership with the leadershere today,” Ms Jones said.

“Tourism goes hand-in-hand with Queensland’seconomy.

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20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD

Author: Lucy Ardern Lucy • Section: General News • Article type : News ItemAudience : 27,386 • Page: 6 • Printed Size: 724.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: AustraliaASR: AUD 4,570 • Words: 534 • Item ID: 375037649

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“When we are doing wellon the Gold Coast in tourism,our economy is going welland I understand that.

“I have made it my priorityto come to the Gold Coastwithin days of being appoint-ed. I want to work with you toensure we grow tourism onthe Gold Coast.”

Despite being born andbred in inner-city Brisbane,Ms Jones claimed to have astrong connection to the

Gold Coast. “I come to theGold Coast once a month atleast,” she said.

“My best friend lives in theHinterland and my mother-in-law is there. I have alwaysholidayed on the Coast.”

Ms Jones described beingCommonwealth Games Min-ister as “the best job in theworld”.

“I will be working to en-sure that the 2018 Common-wealth Games is the best wehave ever seen,” she said.

Ms Jones said that couldonly be achieved in partner-ship with the Gold Coast –making it clear she wouldtake a different approachfrom the LNP government.

“I am very keen to workwith (Gold Coast Mayor)Tom Tate,” she said.

“I think that people wantto be involved in the Com-monwealth Games.

“We need to make this awin for every business on theGold Coast.”

Gold Coast Tourism boss

Paul Donovan and otherscomplimented Ms Jones onher early visit and apparentaccessibility.

“The Minister was on thephone yesterday morning,”he said. “The first thing shesaid was ‘my name is Kate,not the Minister’.”

In contrast, former Gamesand Tourism Minister JannStucksistin

M

off anwas oportfstopppromtouriGamures pointthe woulkeeptheirjobs.

She promised� To make the 2018Commonwealth Gamesthe best in history.� To become a well-known face on the Coast.� To rebuild therelationship betweencouncil and the government.� To ensure a lastingGames legacy for the city.� To consider increasingTourism and EventsQueensland funding beyond the ALP’s electioncommitment.� To tell the government how much the Coast wants the light railextended.

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20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD

Author: Lucy Ardern Lucy • Section: General News • Article type : News ItemAudience : 27,386 • Page: 6 • Printed Size: 724.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: AustraliaASR: AUD 4,570 • Words: 534 • Item ID: 375037649

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GOLDCOASTBULLETIN.COM.AU FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20 2015 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOST CITY NEWS

PAUL WESTON Email: paul.weston@news.com

LABOR PUT ON NOTICEIt will be a testing three years for the Labor Party and the question is, what are its plans for the Gold Coast?A STORM is building insidethe boardrooms and offices inwhat remains a politically con-servative city.

It is potentially longer-last-ing than the rains and windsoutside, and promises to bemore damaging to the GoldCoast than sand erosion on thebeaches.

This is all about maintain-ing the confidence-building inthe lead-up to the 2018 Com-monwealth Games.

In government offices, em-ployees watch those in seniorranks who were linked withthe LNP and speculate if theywill keep theirp o s i t i o n s .Small busi-ness lead-ers wonderabout jobsgrowth.

A n d

asked whether employers were

concerned about the drench-ing rain, a business leader toldyour columnist: “They aremore worried about the newgovernment coming in.

“I’ve just been to a meetingwith 15 people discussing theCommonwealth Games. Howare these new Labor ministersgoing to handle so many port-folios?”

Businessmen want to knowwhat Labor’s plan is for theCoast, given the ALP went tothe polls on the single issue ofnot selling off public assetssuch as Wavebreak Island.

Who do our businessmencontact in George St, given noALP candidates won on theCoast?

Minister for EverythingKate Jones visited the touriststrip yesterday and will be themost likely contact given her

Commonwealth Games port-folio but she must also handletourism, small business andeducation.

Business leaders do notknow what will happen to criti-cal projects such as the secondstage of light rail to heavy railat Helensvale, to which theNewman government gave thegreen light.

Labor insiders admit theminority government is aconsequence of taking theCoast for granted during thecampaign.

Rowan Holzberger inSouthport two weeks out fromthe poll knew he was a 50-50chance but the party could notafford to send down moretroops.

Despite a professional cam-paign from Michael Riordan inGaven, the experienced Laborcandidate did not get a visitfrom the Opposition leader inan electorate the LNP was notconfident about winning.

Would Labor have regainedBurleigh, if there had beenstronger signage and support?

Former Gold Coast-basedLabor minister Peter Lawloracknowledges the party mustwin Southport and Burleigh toensure its survival in govern-ment in the longer term.

“(Peter) Beattie was right. Ifyou want to become a long-term Labor government, wehave to hold seats on the Sun-shine Coast and the GoldCoast,” Mr Lawlor said.

“We have to put in more ef-fort and recognition in thoseareas. It was too little, too late.If we had got the resources

much earlier, we would havedefinitely won Gaven.”

ALP candidate Penny To-land is committed to workingin Broadwater in the nextthree years, and the campaignunearthed younger talent suchas Josh Blundell-Thornton inSurfers Paradise.

Labor has three years tocast some light on the touriststrip and to begin working onits vision before launching aproper campaign during whichvoters will determine if it ob-tains majority government.

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20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD

Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 27,386 • Page: 17Printed Size: 584.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 3,686 • Words: 516Item ID: 375040404

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk showed support at a Wavebreak Island cruise ship terminal pre-election protest.

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20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD

Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 27,386 • Page: 17Printed Size: 584.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 3,686 • Words: 516Item ID: 375040404

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Positive outlook for Cairns industry

Chief upbeat on economyNICK DALTON

THE boss of one of Australia’slargest financial planninggroups believes the Far Northcan look forward to someeconomic glad tidings.

Findex group chief execu-tive and founder Spiro Paulewas in Cairns yesterday tomeet “face to face” the 45 staffof accountancy firm CroweHorwath. Findex bought thenational business for about$200 million in January.

He said, while the city’seconomy had been “patchy”and difficult for many clients,he was seeing improvement.

“Cairns is predominantly atourism economy and the low-ering of the dollar is helpingtourism rather than hurting it,”Mr Paule said.

He said much of the spend-ing money of the region’sAsian tourists was tied to theUS dollar.

“I think this will be good fortravellers and tourism will seegood impact over time,” he said.

Mr Paule said an improvingtourism industry would flow

through to the rest of business.“(New) direct flights (from

Singapore and Bali) are an-other telltale sign,” he said.

“It’s good to see develop-ment (such as Aspial’s Nova 8towers), the flights and promo-tion, all these tourism aspectswill help the economy.”

Mr Paule said Findex’stakeover of Crowe Horwath –which will retain its brandingand identity – would enhanceprovision of services to clients.

“We have specialist servicesnot in Cairns that through tech-nology we can bring to the local

economy and help local busi-nesses,” he said. “We can cross-share knowledge and workcapacity around all our brandsand network seamlessly with-out compromising services.”

Findex has brands includ-ing wealth managers FinancialIndex, Centric Wealth, CivicFinancial Planning, Movo on-line financial advice and stock-brokers Prescott Securities.

Crowe Horwath, with about220,000 clients nationally, hasthe largest share of advisoryservices to small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia.

MEETING: Findex CEO Spiro Paule (centre) with Crowe Horwath’s Frank Collins, Jason Taylor, Ben Featherby and Nathan Finney.

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20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD

Author: Nick Dalton • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 16,833Page: 35 • Printed Size: 232.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 1,031Words: 311 • Item ID: 375018447

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EDITORIAL

MP’s visit good sign for futureQUEENSLAND’S new minister for allthings Gold Coast, Kate Jones, made an ex-traordinary gesture yesterday, journeyingdown the M1 to what many Labor col-leagues probably deem “tiger country’’.

It’s an old political description for theGold Coast, used by both sides back in thedays of Russ Hinze, a previous “minister foreverything’’, and a host of other Nationalsand Liberal MPs who controlled all thelocal seats through the Bjelke-Petersen erauntil the Fitzgerald inquiry.

Tony Fitzgerald’s corruption probe wasfollowed by the state election in 1989 thatinstalled Wayne Goss as premier and re-turned Labor to power after 32 years in thepolitical wilderness.

By the time Peter Beattie became en-trenched as premier, Labor had turned thetables and controlled the Gold Coast, man-aging to maintain its strong presence until2012 when Queenslanders dumped it to in-stall the Newman government and put theconservatives firmly back in control of thestate’s second biggest city.

Gold Coast voters stuck with the LNP atthe January 31 state election. While themassive swing back to Labor has returnedit to power – just – the city remains astronghold for the LNP and very much thetiger country of old. This makes Ms Jones’visit yesterday all the more encouraging.

Of course, with her super portfolios con-taining education, tourism, major events,small business and the CommonwealthGames, she cannot ignore this part of thestate. What counted yesterday was the tim-ing. The fact she arrived here so soon afterbeing sworn in is a positive sign that politicswill not get in the way of the job ahead.

With the Palaszczuk Government mak-

ing a big commitment to jobs and to being aconsultative administration, Ms Jones hasflagged that George St recognises how im-portant tourism and events are to creatingemployment and to this city.

The people she met here yesterday com-prised a who’s who of Queensland andGold Coast tourism. And it was evidentthat olive branches were being offeredfrom all sides.

After a period of uncertainty, that au-gurs well for tourism and is a good sign forthe Commonwealth Games. With majorinfrastructure projects well under way, it isimportant now that a strong Games legacyis forged. How the minister and the city actfrom now on will determine that, but thesigns so far are cause for optimism.

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20 Feb 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD

Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 27,386 • Page: 30Printed Size: 164.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 1,035 • Words: 382Item ID: 375039343

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Bargains hurt hotelsOngoing hot deals will break operators

tony.raggatt@news.com.au

TONY RAGGATTBusinessEditor

A GLOBAL tourism experthas questioned Townsville’shotel rates price war and theapparent apathy of its opera-tors for failing to attend amajor industry developmentconference.

Deloite tourism consultantBryon Merzeo said Towns-ville’s rock-bottom accommo-dation rates might be good forconsumers but would likelysend the city’s operators broke.

“It’s not healthy,” said MrMerzeo, who has a Masters inInternational Tourism Strat-egy.

“If prices stay like this, ult-imately the businesses aregoing to lose and maybe some-one will go into receivership.”

While Mr Merzeo trackedroom rates at $132 in Towns-ville last year, among the low-est in Australia, online sites

show rates as low as $61 at theHotel Allen near Townsville’spremier Strand seafront.

Even new properties such asthe Ibis Hotel in the Palmer“eat street” are offering roomsfor $83, while rooms at the new

Paddington apartments atCentral are going for $88.

One Townsville propertyowner, the City Oasis Inn’sBrendan Carter, admitted therates were unsustainable butsaid the industry was indulgingin a “race to the bottom”.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” MrCarter said.

“Once one gets on board,everyone is on board.”

Mr Merzeo questioned whyso few, if any, accommodationoperators were attending thisweek’s Tourism and Events In-dustry Development Confer-ence at Jupiters hotel.

He understood the confer-ence was mostly government-funded.

“They should be here,” MrMerzeo said.

“I would like to see them in

this discussion at the foruminstead of sitting behind theircomputers.”

He also believed most oper-ators were not members oftourism body Townsville En-terprise. Mr Carter said theindustry in Townsville hadbecome fractured.

It was good “someone from

the outside” was making theobservations, he said.

“Operators seem to be moreinterested in dropping ratesand having a race to the bot-tom,” Mr Carter said.

Mr Carter said the reasonsfor the price war included fall-ing demand and increasingsupply, particularly from out-of-town serviced apartmentoperators and people rentingout their own lodgings throughwebsites such as airbnb.

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Tony Raggatt • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 38 • Printed Size: 451.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 2,737Words: 349 • Item ID: 375061419

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UNSUSTAINABLE RATES: Deloitte tourism consultant Bryon Merzeo disagrees with the price war.

Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Tony Raggatt • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 38 • Printed Size: 451.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 2,737Words: 349 • Item ID: 375061419

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VICIOUSMARCIASTRIKES

CYCLONE Marcia has intensified into a super storm as it bears down on central Queensland.

The storm is expected to hit the coast nearShoalwater Bay this morning, potentially as a Category 5 cyclone packing 295km/h wind gusts. Should Marcia build to a Category 5 cyclone, it will be only the fifth such storm to make landfall in Queensland, the most recent being Yasi, which smashed the North in 2011.

REPORTS, PAGE 6-7

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Brian Williams • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 1 • Printed Size: 1692.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 10,268Words: 612 • Item ID: 375075827

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MONSTER STORM SET TO WREAK HAVOC

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Brian Williams • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 1 • Printed Size: 1692.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 10,268Words: 612 • Item ID: 375075827

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MONSTER Cyclone Marciaslowed and intensified over-night as its destructive windshurled it towards the coast.

It was predicted to makelandfall about 7am today as aCategory 5 cyclone – the high-est category and most deadly.Carrying gusts up to 295km/h,Marcia was expected to slaminto the Shoalwater Bay re-gion north of Rockhampton.

The super storm rapidlygained strength late yesterdayfrom a Category 2 with windsto 165km/h, to a Category 4with destructive winds of260km/h. Marcia slowed me-nacingly to 7km/h as it nearedthe Queensland coast.

If it builds to a Category 5 itwill be only the fifth cyclone ofsuch intensity on record tomake landfall in Queensland.

The weather bureau saidlast night the only Category 5storms on record were Mahi-

na in Princess Charlotte Bayin 1899, unnamed cyclones inMackay and Innisfail in 1918and Yasi in 2011.

There are predictions amillion people or more couldbe affected by Cyclone Marciaas it and accompanying raintroughs sweep through themost heavily populated areasof the state today and to-morrow. Weather bureauchief Rob Webb warned thestorm could produce floodingfrom Rockhampton to south

‘‘ Allemergency

services have been activated and they are well resourced

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK

Flooding sting in the tail of Category 5 blowBRIAN WILLIAMS

of the border with falls of morethan 500mm possible in someplaces. SES volunteers andQueensland Fire and Emer-gency Services teams were onstandby last night, boosted by4500 Rural Fire Service vol-unteers, and the Seqwaterflood operation centre was ac-tivated as a precaution.

Premier Annastacia Pal-aszczuk said people should notpanic but be well prepared.

She said Queenslanderscould be comfortable in theknowledge that emergencyservices staff had done every-thing possible to prepare.

“All emergency serviceshave been activated and theyare well resourced,” Ms Pal-aszczuk said.

Rockhampton Airport wasshut down, cyclone sheltersopened, councils boosteddrinking water reservoirsshould supplies be interrupted,and most beaches closed.

Virgin cancelled all itsflights from Townsville toMackay, Rockhampton,Bundaberg and Gladstone upuntil 9am today, with a furtherupdate to be issued at 9.30am.

Qantas cancelled someflights between Townsville andMackay scheduled for thismorning with all affected pas-sengers notified by the airlineor travel agents.

Waves built to 7m off Bris-bane and wind gusts to 167km/h were recorded at Creal ReefLighthouse northeast ofMackay and 74km/h as far in-land as Toowoomba.

Marcia is expected to turnsouthwest once it crosses andcontinue to dump heavy rainalong the coastal strip.

Much of the rain in thesoutheast today is expected tocome via a trough ahead of themain low. Weather bureauforecaster Jess Carey saidflooding and a storm surge re-mained the biggest concerns.Storm surge impacts woulddepend on what time the cyc-lone crossed the coast.

Sky Weather forecasterTom Saunders said Marciahad the potential to affect

more than a million people bystriking in the heavily popu-lated southern part of thestate.

Emergency services bossessaid anyone given an officialevacuation order must leave.

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Brian Williams • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 1 • Printed Size: 1692.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 10,268Words: 612 • Item ID: 375075827

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EYE OF THE STORM: (Clockwise from left) Winds pick up at Bargara near Bundaberg; a satellite image of Cyclone Marcia as it nears the coast; Patrick Busby tapes up windows in Yeppoon; and empty shelves at Woolworths Yeppoon. Pictures: PETER WALLIS, JACK TRAN

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20 Feb 2015Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD

Author: Brian Williams • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 20,932Page: 1 • Printed Size: 1692.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 10,268Words: 612 • Item ID: 375075827

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High hopes aviation fund will boost CairnsANIKA HUME

THE Far North has received its best hint yet that the new Labor Government is eyeing off the region as a prime placeto splash some cash from the party’s aviation tourism funding pool.

Advance Cairns CEO MarkMatthews was among just a handful of peak industry andbusiness group chiefs from across the state invited by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to a special economic address in Brisbane this week, where Cairns wassingled out as being firmly inthe sights of the new State Government as a possible investment hub.

James Cook Universityvice-chancellor Sandra Harding, Central Queensland University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman and Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Ron Tong also attended, rounding out the region’s representation among the exclusive 45-strong guest list.

Mr Matthews saidQueensland’s new leaderoutlined her vision and a“positive political narrative”focused on future economic opportunities and how to drivethem forward in the key areasof health, education,

infrastructure development and roads.

“She spoke a lot about theneed to strengthen regional areas and seek the support of organisations in these areas,’’ he said.

But specific mention of thelocal area came from Mulgrave MP, now Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, as he presented a detailed explanation of the Government’s initiatives to fund key sectors driving business growth.

Mr Matthews said he singled out Tropical North Queensland representatives, thanking them for their attendance, before also acknowledging the Far North in the State’s plans to roll out its $18 million Aviation Attraction Fund.

Labor committed $10 million over three years towards the fund during the election campaign, which Mr Pitt said at the time would

come in addition to the $8 million over four years already allocated to the funding pool.

The ALP promised thefunding would be used byregional tourism organisations to apply for grants for strategies to partner with and attract international airlines

and flights to the state, with a

focus on luring emerging tourism markets in Asia.

“Curtis indicated that thisfund would benefit aviation development in Queensland, but more so particularly in Far North Queensland,” Mr Matthews said.

“Short of saying ‘I’m giving

you the money for CairnsAirport route development’,he singled our region out asbeing in line for success withthat funding,’’ he said.

“We’ve already got a strongairport, strong routes andstrong relationships withinternational airlines – wehave to build on those, on

what we’ve already got.“That’s where our

competitive position lies.”Far North representatives

also mingled with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and key ministers, and Mr Matthews said he left the meet conscious the region was “well engaged” with the new Government.

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20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD

Author: Anika Hume • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 16,833Page: 8 • Printed Size: 578.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 2,569Words: 465 • Item ID: 375017397

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LIFT-OFF: Advance Cairns CEO Mark Matthews (inset) was one of several NQ business representatives who attended the business andindustry forum addressed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Parliament House in Brisbane. Main picture: LIAM KIDSTON

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20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD

Author: Anika Hume • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 16,833Page: 8 • Printed Size: 578.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 2,569Words: 465 • Item ID: 375017397

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Chamber to host public meeting

Have a cuppa with Aquis NICK DALTON

A SPECIAL event for Aquisrepresentatives to show theircommitment to the $8.15 bil-lion project is to be held inCairns in April.

The Cairns Chamber ofCommerce is hosting an “After-noon Tea with Aquis” on April 1.

Chamber chief executiveDeb Hancock said the com-munity event was “to furthersubstantiate the proponents’ongoing commitment to Aquis”with tickets available soon.

“The Aquis proponentshave been consistent and un-wavering in their commitmentto the Aquis project despitepopular conjecture to the con-trary,” Ms Hancock said.

“This event is intended toprovide confidence to ourcommunity that the project iscontinuing … and to provideinformation related to the cur-

rent status of the project, alongwith milestones and dates forconstruction.”

Aquis project director PatFlanagan has called on theQueensland Government tofinalise probity and grant agaming licence to “let us get onwith the job”.

An Aquis spokesman saidthe company hoped by April 1there would be feedback fromthe government which couldbe passed on to the meeting.

Chamber of Commerce andIndustry Queensland’s Cairns-based president Brett Mollersaid it was “extremely positive”that Mr Fung was “eager tomeet and work with the newlyformed Queensland ALP gov-ernment to progress this inte-grated resort development”.

Advance Cairns chief execu-tive Mark Matthews said thecall by Mr Flanagan “indicatesthis project is going ahead”.

Tourism Tropical NorthQueensland chief executiveAlex de Waal said it madesense to complete probity in-vestigations and grant the li-cence before the Fungsinvested more money on therest of the required approvals.

“Aquis has been patient tocontinue with the opportunityand Queensland needs an in-vestment of this calibre,” he said.

Cairns Airport chief execu-tive Kevin Brown said it was “an-other positive sign that Mr Fungis committed to the project”.

Aquis Aware spokesmanDenis Walls said the projectwould not get off the ground.

“With or without a gamblinglicence, Tony Fung has nomoney to start his mega-casinoand the anti-gambling crack-down in China will make it nighimpossible for him to raise any-where near the $8.15 billion forhis proposed white elephant.”

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20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD

Author: Nick Dalton • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 16,833Page: 14 • Printed Size: 211.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 938Words: 355 • Item ID: 375016014

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Plane to see style is on upSHANNON POWER

WITH Qantas announcing stricter dress codes for passengers using its lounges, Far North fashionistas are encouraging locals to ditch the shorts and thongs.

From April 1, Qantas will give a “friendly reminder” to its lounge guests that smart casual dress guidelines apply.

The guidelines will apply tothe lounges in the Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports but are a part of the terms and conditions for all Qantas lounges.

Customers may be refusedentry at the discretion of the lounge staff if they are wearing items such as singlets, bare feet or rubber thongs.

A Qantas spokeswoman said that if a person was wearing thongs and footy shorts they probably wouldn’t be let in, but thongs with jeans and a nice shirt would be acceptable.

“Most customers meet andexceed our guidelines,” she said. “We’re not being too prescriptive.”

Cairns boutique, VivienneFrancine, has been selling locally designed and made clothes for 17 years and sales consultant, Bronwyn Mathews agrees that being chic while travelling is important.

“While we are relaxed in Cairns, that’s no excuse to not dress neatly,” she said.

V1

CHIC TRAVEL: Fashion consultants Zoe Nielsen and Bronwyn Mathews, with advice for travellers as Qantas gets stricter with attire for their business lounge Picture: ANNA ROGERS

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20 Feb 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD

Author: Shannon Power • Section: General News • Article type : News Item • Audience : 16,833Page: 14 • Printed Size: 261.00cm² • Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 1,160Words: 207 • Item ID: 375016020

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