ACT Tourism Minister Andrew Barr says he will lobby his federal counterpart to ensure Canberra is not left out of any future Tourism Australia ads.
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The pledge came hot on the heels of Opposition tourism spokesman Brendan Smyth claiming Mr Barr was not sticking up enough for Canberra.
Canberra was left out of Tourism Australia's lavish new 90-second television ad which will be seen around the world as part of its There's nothing like Australia campaign.
Mr Smyth has called on Tourism Australia to slot Canberra into the ad which features images of the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley, the Opera House on Sydney Harbour, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef's Lizard and Hayman islands, Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, Melbourne's Crown Casino, the Gold Coast and South Australia's Kangaroo Island
"I believe Canberra should be stood up for by all political parties, I am standing up for Canberra and I am calling on Andrew Barr to do the same," Mr Smyth said.
When Mr Barr's office was informed of the comments, it released a statement from the minister on Thursday night saying he was going to act on the omission.
"I agree it's disappointing Canberra isn't included in the ad. I will write to federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson to put the case for Canberra being included in future ads," Mr Barr said.
The minister also tweeted this morning: "Check out the National Gallery of Australia in Tourism Australia's There's Nothing Like Australia app".
Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said it wanted to use the "best" images of the nation in the ad and Canberra featured prominently in other parts of the campaign including a new free tablet application.
