Leisure Industry of Australia

This research examines the pattern of Australian government involvement in the leisure industry since World War II. The research will set the context in which leisure-industry development occurred over the last half of the 20th century and discuss the background and substance of initiatives taken in this area.

The leisure industry, which includes tourism, gaming, recreation, and sports activities, has been identified as a major source of revenue and economic activity for Australia. As of the year 2000, tourism reportedly accounted for more than 500,000 jobs in Australia and some $26 billion, or 4.3% of Australia's entire industrial output. In 2000 and 2001, international visitors purchased $17.1 billion worth of goods and services, with an estimated 29% of that going for long-distance transportation, 14% to shopping, gifts, and souvenirs, and 13% for accommodations. The international-travel figures declined by 7% in 2002, owing chiefly to the events of September 11, 2001 (AusNews). However, in 2002, the Australian government began work on what was called the Tourism Green Paper, which outlined a 10-year strategic plan for government/industry collaboration in tourism development (ATEC).

The overarching point is that, as Australia moves into the 21st century, its leisure industry has reached an industrial critical mass. However, that was not always the case. To be sure, Australians have long been involved in a variety of leisure-time activities. According to Waterhouse (12ff)

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rket conformity, especially among Australian youth, who as members of the "bodgie culture" became significant consumers of "new institutionalized entertainments such as rock'n'roll dancing" and who were distinguished by adding a "new element of materiality to everyday life based upon enhanced spending power" (Evans 126). It is the aspect of consumerism and spending, found in the private youth sector, that yields insight into the Australian government's proactive attitude toward leisure-industry development. It helps explain the wide currency given to industry-government partnerships in the travel industry. On the theory that sports and recreation provide "tangible and intangible benefits . . . to the nation," both national and state government entities in Australia have invested in constructing a variety of public-use facilities (AusNews). A series of laws aimed at developing Australia's leisure industry have been passed over the past six decades. The Recreation Grounds (Joint Schemes) Act of 1947 provided government authority to seize, or engage in "compulsory acquisition" of, land for the purpose of constructing recreation grounds for public use (Australia 1947). This was reinforced by the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 19

Category: Business - L