AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (14:59): Minister, how many trips interstate have you made this week in relation to the Australian Tourism Exchange?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:59): I made the trip on Friday for the ministerial council and came back on Monday for cabinet. I went back on Monday afternoon to host the dinner for the tourism operators all around the world. I came back for China. I did go to Sydney again last night to meet with the head of the Tour de France, who had invited me to attend a dinner to celebrate this year's 100^th edition of the Tour de France. I am sure everyone on both sides of the house will agree that these are very important partnerships to have.

I was the only minister from any government in Australia to be invited along there and to fly the South Australian flag, and we want to continue that relationship. In fact, I invited the head of the Tour de France to come to the Tour Down Under again next year. He was here a couple of years ago and it is vitally important that we continue that relationship. They now sell the TV rights for the Tour Down Under and we are reaching millions and millions of viewers right around the world, and it is the sort of deal that we could not do without the help of the head of the Tour de France.