Ministerial Statement

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VISITOR AND TRAVEL CENTRE

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Food Marketing) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: On 25 February 2011, the South Australian Tourism Commission announced plans to license a private entity to manage services currently provided by the commission's SA Visitor and Travel Centre in King William Street, Adelaide, which the commission indicated would close on 1 July 2011. This approach was designed to fit with the commission's increasing focus on its online marketing strategy while still providing a resource for those consumers who wish to research and book travel via more traditional means.

The commission commenced a tender process for the licence in March this year. On 15 June 2011, the commission announced that it had selected Holidays of Australia as the successful tenderer. On 16 June 2011, I requested that the commission provide me with full details of the process of the commission used in selecting and appointing the successful licensee and the probity controls governing that process. The commission provided this information to me on 20 June 2011.

I have been advised by the commission that procurement processes were followed in line with the State Procurement Board guidelines and that an independent probity consultant was engaged to ensure that the process was fair and transparent. I am also advised that the final contract and commercial terms were prepared in conjunction with the Crown Solicitor's Office. However, given the significant industry and community interest in this issue, I believe it is appropriate for this process to be reviewed independently. As a result, I have asked the Auditor-General to review the information provided by the commission and the control protocols that were put in place.