CLIPSAL 500

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:24): My question is to the Minister of Tourism. Can the minister inform the house about the economic benefit of the 2013 Clipsal 500?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:24): I thank the member for Mitchell for his question. Great news today for the South Australian economy with the figures released for this year's Clipsal—the best ever in terms of economic benefit to the state, a $36.6 million return to the South Australian economy. I will mention some of those figures. There was $54.8 million, in total, in event-associated expenditure; $36.63 million in economic benefit to the economy, as I have said; and 286,500 attendances, the second best of all time.

Of course, on the Sunday, we had to put up the 'house full' signs. There were 15,053 interstate visitors, which is an increase of 3,000 in the number of people coming from interstate. The hotel bed occupancy was almost 80,000 and anyone trying to get a bed in Adelaide over that Clipsal weekend would have struggled because it is such a popular event. Ninety per cent of the people who were surveyed who had come from interstate said they would come back to the event again and would certainly recommend it to others to enjoy the weekend that Adelaide puts on.

Adelaide, of course, is a fantastic place, whether it is for festivals, bike races or the Clipsal. When we have an event of this magnitude, the whole state gets behind it and really comes alive. I was pleased to see the record figures from the Fringe that were announced last week by the Minister Assisting the Minister for the Arts. Fringe, WOMAD and the Tour Down Under are all great economic drivers for South Australia.

I think one of the reasons we had such great attendances at the Clipsal 500 this year was that, for the first time, Holden and Ford, that traditional rivalry, had the addition of Mercedes and Nissan; and next year there will be another player, which will make it interesting. The Volvos are joining the race; we will have the Volvo drivers out there. That will make it pretty spectacular. I am not sure whether or not they will have hats at the back but the Volvo drivers will be out there mixing it with Holden, Ford, Nissan and Mercedes next year.

Of course, as the member for Hammond knows, Kiss played on the Sunday night, along with Mötley Crüe and hometown heroes the Hilltop Hoods. There was something for everyone (particularly if you are into bands like Kiss) on the track and off the track. I congratulate the Clipsal 500 board and everyone involved, including all those great volunteers who put in so many hours over the Clipsal weekend for a very successful event this year.