AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Can the minister inform the house about the Australian Tourism Exchange?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:55): Last weekend, the Australian Tourism Exchange was held in Sydney and we had just over 25 South Australian tourism operators attend at the Sydney convention centre. It was a very good display, and the new South Australian logo was prominent in the large convention hall. It was good to be walking around the hall and seeing that, while some of the states had people sitting there without people coming out and asking them questions, it was almost impossible for us to talk to the South Australian tourism operators because they were flat out talking to tourism operators from around the world who were trying to buy product and bring tourists down from all parts of the world, whether it was North America, Europe or throughout Asia.

We had, of course, operators there from Kangaroo Island, we had two of the shark cage dive operators from Eyre Peninsula, we had Hassie from over near the Nullarbor—real characters who do so much to sell South Australia and its great physical attractions. At the dinner on Monday night, where we hosted tourism operators from throughout Europe and North America, we served up kingfish, prawns, lamb—all the sort of food that South Australia is famous for. We had Skillogalee wines there from Clare, Chapel Hill wines from down in McLaren Vale, and we had Bird in Hand wines as well from the Adelaide Hills.

It was terrific to be able to give people a taste of the great food and wine that South Australia is renowned for throughout the world. When I was in China—and I mentioned this to the member for Chaffey yesterday—I ran into someone who bought yabbies at $5 each in Hong Kong. I think, having had a few of the member for Chaffey's yabbies, we might have to get a little bit of an export business going up to Hong Kong and China. The food and wine we produce in this state is exceptional, and people love the fact that it's so fresh and it comes from a pristine environment. It links perfectly with tourism because people want to go to the source of where these great food products and wine come from.

Mr Venning: The Barossa.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, the Barossa is very good. In fact, when I was in Hong Kong I went to the Barossa Wine School, and that is doing very well. It's been established up in Hong Kong, and at the end of this year, they are actually going to bring the graduates from the Barossa Wine School down to the Barossa—another example of how it all links in. We saw this at the Australian Tourism Exchange on the weekend, that wonderful connection between the food and tourism. At the happy hour on Saturday afternoon, South Australia had the busiest booth. People from all around just descended on the South Australian booth; it might have had something to do with the fresh Coffin Bay oysters that were being served up.

The results of this Australian Tourism Exchange of course we won't know for some time, but it has given operators another chance to continue to build those relationships with tourism operators from around the world. Senator Don Farrell, who is the Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism, and Gary Gray, the new federal tourism minister, were also there. We had our ministerial council meeting on Friday and then we did a walk around the exhibition and convention centre on Saturday.

As I say, we have a very enthusiastic minister in Senator Don Farrell for tourism here in South Australia. He had some very productive meetings with China Southern, the airline I met with in China. We are looking forward to a very good relationship with Senator Farrell as we forge ahead to grow tourism here in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the deputy leader for the second time and I call the member for Morialta for that obstructive interjection.

Mr PENGILLY: Sir, as—

The SPEAKER: Is this a point of order?

Mr PENGILLY: No, sir, I have a supplementary to the minister.

The SPEAKER: A supplementary; very well, member for Finniss.