The Opposition has urged the Cook Labor Government to commit to keeping WA’s tourism attractions open following their announcement that Horizontal Falls in the North West will close at the end of 2027.
This has followed months of speculation after calls from Traditional Owners to close attractions including Horizontal Falls, Nature’s Window, Wave Rock and the Gloucester Tree due to cultural concerns.
Shadow Minister for Tourism Louise Kingston has responded stating there needs to be a considered and common-sense approach.
“Tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry with thousands of hard-working West Australians relying on the sector to put food on the table”.
“The closure of Horizontal Falls, just one attraction, will take away 58 jobs and cause an estimated loss of $15 million dollars.
“Where will the State Labor Government stop? There is no doubt every natural attraction in WA is at risk.
Ms Kingston also said that the Government needs to remove uncertainty for the thousands of tourism businesses.
“The State Labor Government and the Minister for Tourism needs to work to address any concerns and come up with a solution that ensures these attractions remain open for visitors to enjoy for years to come.” Ms Kingston said.
Shadow Minister for the Environment Neil Thomson said the Cook Government had once again failed to balance the interests of all parties and demonstrated no leadership with the decision.
“This situation should not have been allowed to reach this conclusion,” Mr Thomson said.
“The interests of tourism operators, the Kimberley business sector, the Broome community, and the wider Australian public have not been represented in this decision.”
The State Government also announced today that new experiences would be developed for Horizontal Falls but failed to provide any detail on what those experiences were.
“It’s safe to assume the Cook Government’s promise of more attractions, without providing any details, is little more than spin,” Mr Thomson said.
“I feel for those families who will lose their livelihood and I am angry that the people of Broome have been dealt yet another blow.”
