Free trade deals aren't worth two bob. China has spat in the face of the agreement they signed with the Abbott Government.

Economic nationalism trumps economic rationalism.

The VIP markets (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines) plus Japan and Thailand have a combined population of 720 million people, which is nearly as big as China. These are the people we should be trading with.

The Australian Newspaper (23/02/2021) reports that coal has added $2B to Australia's budget, despite China's blanket ban.

The article states, the demand from... "established and emerging markets - including Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam and India - remained strong in the back-end of last year as sales to China plummeted following Beijing's ban on local coal miners."

The VIP markets can deliver for Australia, it's already happening.

Bob Katter, Kennedy MP.

In the Year of Indigenous Tourism, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council welcomes the federal government's $40 million Indigenous Tourism Fund to assist the recovery of the industry.

This is great news for the industry as tourism operators struggle to stay afloat due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Indigenous tourism accounts for $505 million in expenditure in Queensland and supports 2,500 full-time jobs.

The Indigenous Tourism Fund will continue to drive the engagement, commitment, and genuine progress to make the most of First Nations tourism in Queensland.

Through our Indigenous Working Group we have been advocating strongly to both federal and state government to build a better path for Indigenous aspirations in tourism to be made a reality.

Queensland has an enormous opportunity to tap into the skills, knowledge and culture of Indigenous Queenslanders.

With the impacts of COVID-19 there is a real risk of setting back the Indigenous tourism sector in Queensland, so the announcement of the Indigenous Tourism Fund is welcomed news.

The $40 million Indigenous Tourism Fund will be divided into:

$10 to go towards a National Indigenous Tourism Mentoring

Up to $12 million for Tourism Grants for Indigenous businesses. Applications for the grant will open on 22 February.

Up to $17 million for States and Territories to co-invest with the Commonwealth on significant Indigenous tourism projects.

To ensure the fund is Indigenous-led, $1 million will be provided for the establishment of a National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group

Queensland Tourism Industry Council

On 28 February we commemorate 30 years since the official end of the First Gulf War. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the international community responded quickly, with the UN imposing sanctions on Iraq, giving it until 15 January 1991 to withdraw from Kuwait.

When this date passed, the combat phase known as 'Operation Desert Storm' began, which lasted until 28 February 1991 when coalition victory was declared.

Australia deployed 1800 Australian Defence Force personnel who provided escort and logistics support during combat operations and continued working after the ceasefire in February of 1991, as Australians remained in the region to assist with humanitarian efforts. The war also saw the first RAN women serve in combat-related roles in warlike service as part of the crew on the replenishment ship HMAS Westralia.

Darren Chester

Minister for Veterans' Affairs