TIGER AIRWAYS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (15:55): My question is to the Treasurer, although I expect he will pass it to the Minister for Industry and Trade. Now that Tiger Airways is to abandon Adelaide as a base, has the government reached a firm agreement with Tiger Airways which will guarantee that all of the taxpayer funding will be paid back, including the $900,000 paid to Tourism? Is the airline in a position to argue that the job and aircraft targets agreed to in the secret agreement between the government and the airline were met?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services) (15:56): It is so secret I am talking about it in parliament. I am glad that he finally got a question on this. It is impressive she gave you the scraps.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is impressive she gave you the scraps. But the truth is this: as I said in my previous answer, Tiger Airways admit that they are in breach of the contract conditions. They came to see—

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We did have an agreement.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We have an agreement.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The government entered into an agreement with Tiger—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for Bragg.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: She is now an expert on aviation attraction as well. It is impressive. The expertise does not end.

The SPEAKER: Minister, back to the question.

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is an interesting point. The former minister for industry and trade says that we were criticised for not getting the $10 million deal that they are now saying we entered into in secret, so it seems to me that they are a bit confused about their policy. The truth is that we did enter into an agreement with Tiger. I have detailed those conditions. Those conditions were in a signed contract. Tiger are in breach. They will pay the money back. SAFA is chasing them.