Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VISITOR AND TRAVEL CENTRE

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Will the minister advise why the street level King William Street Visitor and Travel Centre was transferred to the basement of a Grenfell Street building before that building was made accessible for those with prams, walking frames or disabilities and while the government is still paying rent at the King William Street site?

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) (15:21): The question about the disability access, which is a matter that has been on the radio this morning, is something that does concern me. In fact, this morning on the way to parliament I took a walk down and had a look at the visitor centre itself in order to make sure for myself what the position was in relation to the access. I am talking about the new premises. At one level the premises appear to be very good; that level, of course, is when you are actually in the premises.

Mr Williams: The basement level?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, I am going to lead you through them bit by bit, so you do not miss anything. We will start in the basement. The basement is actually very well appointed, very well set out and does an excellent job of displaying South Australian tourism opportunities. However, I am disappointed that there appears to be a period of time between the closing of the old premises and the present time, and I gather for some weeks to come, where proper disability access is not available in the new premises. I am disappointed about that.

I have, in fact, made it clear to the commission that that is the case, and I have requested not only that I be provided with further particulars about this, but also that an independent assessor be engaged to confirm that the proposals for disability access which have been arranged or contemplated by the licensee do in fact meet Australian standards.