SMALL VENUE LEGISLATION

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:32): My question is directed to the Minister for Business Services and Consumers. Can the minister tell the house about whether he thinks the government's small venue legislation is adding to the vibrancy of the Adelaide CBD?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for her question. After thinking about her question for a moment, I can say unequivocally: yes is the answer to that question, but I ought to give some more information. Yes is hardly enough.

I am able to advise members—and they will be delighted to hear this, I am sure—that the first licence under the government's small venue legislation was approved by the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner just a fortnight ago. The new venue—which is one that is possibly known to a number of the Festival aficionados here—is called Little Miss Miami, which is an offshoot of what was Little Miss Mexico. That operated, as I said, during the Fringe last year and now it has been opened again under this new umbrella, and I understand there has been significant interest from the public.

Little Miss Miami will add to a growing diversity of licensed premises in the City of Adelaide's CBD. I can advise the house also—this is some more good news—that there are five other applications that are currently going through the small venue licence process with Consumer and Business Services. That is five more of these very interesting little venues. The government's new small venue licence allows entrepreneurs here in Adelaide to establish their own type of venue and business model without being burdened by unnecessary regulation and red tape. The government undertook the task of reforming South Australia's liquor licensing laws because this is a government that wants a vibrant city that all South Australians can enjoy. This is a government that believes in small business and enterprise.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, you can laugh.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Would the Deputy Premier be seated. I call the leader to order, and I notice the Minister for Manufacturing was unruly earlier on, so I call him to order also. Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am concerned that people do not take seriously the support that we are actually trying to give small business and entrepreneurs, and I think it is disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition finds that funny. This government wants to encourage local young entrepreneurs to stay here and invest their money in the state. This is a government that has a positive agenda for this state, that has refused to listen to the naysayers. We have put small venue legislation through the parliament, against some serious opposition—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: You'd like me to talk more, would you, about where the opposition came from to this particular proposal? I would be happy to talk to you about that, but perhaps not now; I am answering an important question. The creation of the new small venues will complement the government's record investment opportunities in the City of Adelaide CBD.

The redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval will mean far more South Australians spending their time and hard earned money in the city, and new local businesses will profit, including these new small venues. I would like to congratulate Little Miss Miami in being the first small venue to open in Adelaide, and I wish the owners every success in their new business. I hope that this is the first of many small venues to open up in Adelaide in the coming months.