Congratulations to all involved in organising the event and all the participants braving the much needed rain.

The Dubbo electorate will get its fair share of the State’s rapidly growing tourism pie with the NSW Government announcing the State’s first regional tourism target to double the current spend, last week.

The NSW Government would work with industry to reach an ambitious target of $20 billion in visitor expenditure in rural and regional NSW by 2025, rising to $25 billion in 2030.

A regional tourism target is great news for our local tourism operators and other businesses including accommodation providers, restaurants, hotels and retailers, who all benefit from more visitors coming to town.

This is a win for local economies across the region,

especially during the current drought conditions where tourism is an important measure to keep the local economy stimulated.

We want international tourists flying into Sydney and heading out to rural and regional NSW, rather than flying to Melbourne or Brisbane.

A tourism target for rural and regional NSW is our commitment to local operators,

business, pubs, cafes and hotels that the NSW Government will ensure everyone gets a fair share of the State’s tourism boom.

The regional target will be supported by a range of initiatives by the NSW Government to encourage greater visitation to rural and regional NSW.

This includes increased funding for marketing campaigns, more rural and regional events, improved tourism infrastructure and measures to address skills shortages in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Consumers are set to save big on time and money, and have disputes with businesses resolved quicker thanks to new Fair Trading powers.

The fair Trading Legislation Amendment (Consumer Guarantee Directors) Bill, granting the new powers passed the NSW Parliament.

The Government’s reform will give the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner the power to direct a business to repair, replace or refund a good.

This means fair, quick and cheap resolutions for consumers and businesses, and will be alternative to the often costly process of courts and tribunals.

Consumers were often confused about their rights and disputes still accounted for more than 20% of legal programs experienced by people in NSW.

The 2016 Australian Consumer Survey also found 76 per cent of people reported a problem within the first six months of purchasing a good.

If a resolution is still not possible, rather than the case going to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or being dropped,

consumers can now seek a direction that the trader repair, replace refund the good.

This is about enhancing Fair Trading’s existing powers to get the very best outcome for the region,

consumers and give business certainty around their obligations under Australian Consumer Law.

This is a big win for consumers in the region, and will help ensure they get the fair go they deserve in the marketplace,

with the reforms taking effect from January 1, 2019.

For more information on the criteria, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Until next week

Troy