New tourism ministers for Western Australia and Tasmania
The WA premier, Roger Cook, has shuffled his cabinet following the retirement of Paul Papalia and taken back the tourism portfolio.
Cook was previously the tourism minister for about a year and a half between December 2021 and June 2023.
In the reshuffle, he has removed the tourism portfolio from Reece Whitby, who had held it since March 2025, and taken it on himself, alongside the defence industries ministry. He has retained the trade and investment and economic diversification portfolios, which sit nicely alongside the tourism portfolio insofar as business events are concerned.
Down south, last month, Roger Jaensch was appointed Tasmania’s tourism, hospitality and events minister, following the resignation of Jane Howlett.
Before joining Tasmania’s parliament, Jaensch was the first CEO of Cradle Coast Authority, a coalition between nine councils with regional development as one of its three key missions.
Jaensch is also minister for the arts, minister for community and multicultural affairs and minister for racing.
Zadro takes on new clients
Communications agency Zadro has taken on two new clients in the business events industry and extended its term with an international industry association.
Bureau Visit Sunshine Coast Business Events and event agency Directions Conference and Incentive Management have both joined the agency’s stable of clients in recent months.
Meanwhile, the International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO) has extended its partnership with Zadro by another year. Zadro also represents the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA).
The agency is well-known in the business events industry, working with a variety of companies in the sector.
Zadro has also recently taken on former micenet digital content editor Laura Bradley as a senior account manager. Since leaving micenet in 2021, Bradley has held a variety of PR agency roles.
New fast track option at Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport has launched a new fast pass for airport security in the international terminal.
The new Fast Track pass, which costs $20 per person and can be bought for a whole group, gives holders access to a priority queue to go through the security screening section of the airport journey.
“Fast Track is part of our broader investment in improving the passenger journey by giving passengers more choice, reducing friction and helping people move through the airport more easily,” said Sydney Airport’s commercial group executive, Mark Zaouk.
“More than 42 million people travel through Sydney Airport each year and that number is expected to grow significantly in the decades ahead.
“Our job is to make sure the airport experience keeps pace with those expectations and remains as smooth, efficient and seamless as possible.”
