STUART O'GRADY

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Premier. Is it correct that the two-year $44,000 contract with Stuart O'Grady was never recommended by the former department of trade and economic development but was rather a decision taken by the former premier or the cabinet?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:31): Yes, there was a contract with Stuart O'Grady to promote South Australia. That contract went from 1 July 2008 to 1 July 2010. The payment was $5,000 per quarter, exclusive of GST, for a total of $44,000, once you include the GST.

I was not the minister responsible at the time, and I am not sure what discussions were had around the contract, but Stuart was engaged to promote South Australia throughout Europe—one of the best-known South Australians living in Europe at the time. So, the South Australian government took him on board as an ambassador for South Australia to sell South Australia throughout Europe.