Ministerial Statement

Budget - Cairns Convention Centre

Hon. P.D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.45 a.m.): Queenslanders will win today out of the budget and Queenslanders will win on Wednesday night at the State of Origin. In fact, the budget delivered today will show Queensland in its strongest financial position ever. That is due to the hard work of my cabinet, in particular the Treasurer. I congratulate him on that in advance.  The government is funding major capital work and projects all over Queensland and they are paying dividends in terms of jobs and economic development throughout the region. The Treasurer's announcement that the Cairns Convention Centre will receive an additional $8.5 million in the 2004-05 budget is extremely well placed. The funding will be used to refurbish stage 1 of the complex to keep pace with international and national expect expectations. We are looking after the region. I seek to incorporate more detail in Hansard.  Leave granted.  Rest assured, the Budget to be delivered this afternoon will hold more good news in terms infrastructure in regional Queensland.

One great example of a local community embracing tourism and business infrastructure, and working hard and smart to ensure its success, is the Cairns Convention Centre—which employs 28 full time staff and up to 150 casuals during major events.  Work began on marketing the Centre 10 years ago last month, before construction started in January 1995.  Stage 1 opened a little over eight years ago—on 1 July 1996—stage 2 was completed in September 1999, and the Centre hosted its first National Basketball League Cairns Taipans Game in October 1999. Global economic shocks and international terrorism have made the past decade a roller coaster ride for Cairns, whose fortunes are linked to international tourism.  Despite the ups and downs, the Cairns Convention Centre management has steadily built the far north's share of the international convention market.  Convention facilities have taken position alongside the Reef, Rainforest and international airport as a drawcard for international business in the region.  Figures provided by Centre management show that since it opened, the complex has attracted an impressive $250.6 million in direct spending to Cairns.
It has hosted more than 700 events, including more than 180 major national and international conventions. 604, 238 people have attended these events and the Centre has generated 593,955 room nights for the city.  On average, each international convention delegate spends $4,073, and national delegates spend $4,041—which is 4 to 5 times more than a leisure visitor spends in the region.  The best year was the 2003 calendar year—when 24 international and national conventions attracted 22,000 delegates and the Centre generated an estimated $60 million for the Cairns economy.  This success is a credit to Centre management, and to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Cairns community.

The Treasurer's announcement that Cairns Convention Centre will receive an additional $8.5 million in the 2004-05 Budget is extremely well-placed.   The funding will be used to refurbish Stage 1 of the complex to keep pace with international and national expectations.  It will improve technological and communication systems, and improve the Centre's aesthetic appeal and comfort—inside and out.

There will be new and improved paving, landscaping, carpets, painting and signage, and upgrades to lighting controls, air conditioning, security, catering, public art, hydraulics, and mechanical services (to improve function and energy efficiency).  The work will be programmed in 2004-05 to minimise disruption and ensure the Convention Centre can continue to operate.  The Cairns experience shows the people of the Gold Coast have good reason to be excited about the opening of their $127 million Convention and Exhibition Centre on 29 June. As Cairns has proven: enterprising Queenslanders will ensure a world-class convention centre fulfils its potential to be a magnet for jobs and new business opportunities. 

1380 Ministerial Statement 15 Jun 2004

For More Information:

Geoff Donaghy
Managing Director
Cairns Convention Centre
Telephone: 07-4042 4200
Facsimile: 07-4052 1152
Email: