Cricket World Cup

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (14:59): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on the ICC Cricket World Cup and Adelaide's role in hosting the Indian cricket team in the lead-up to the tournament?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:59): With pleasure, Mr Speaker. I thank the honourable member for her question. As members of this house would be aware, this weekend marks the official beginning of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup hosted across Australia and New Zealand over the next six weeks. Adelaide was selected as the official training base for the reigning world cup champions, the Indian cricket team, and that did not happen accidentally, sir, because we went after this match. We decided that it was the great game of the tournament to get. While everybody was off looking at the quarter-finals, we were looking at this India-Pakistan match.

We also have had two practice matches here at the Adelaide Oval against Australia and Afghanistan in the last week. The build up to this tournament reaches its climax on Sunday, when India plays its arch rival Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in front of a sold-out crowd and a global audience of over one billion people. I understand this will make it the most watched live event in our state's history. While other states, as I say, pitched for other matches, we had our eyes firmly on the prize.

The match itself is predicted to deliver a direct economic benefit of $10 million to South Australia and an indirect benefit of many times more. I am informed that 10,500 people just from India will be in Adelaide over the course of this weekend, and that represents the whole of the annual visitor population from India over the course of the year, so it is extraordinary. Over one weekend 10,000, when we only get about 10,000 over the course of the year.

SA Tourism has been working hard to promote the great experiences our state offers to these visitors. I understand that many of them are extending their stay over a number of days. This is a great result for hotels, our restaurants and retail businesses who no doubt are looking forward to a bumper weekend. Last night, I had the great pleasure of officially welcoming the Indian cricket team in Adelaide at the Telstra Plaza outside the magnificent Adelaide Oval. I must say, I have never received a cheer like this at any time during the whole of the course of my political career and it is unlikely ever—

Mr Gardner: What about when you went to Mount Gambier?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Oh, yes; it was similar. It had a similar volume, although they were saying different words. Around 1,000 people, including the Swami Army and many others from Adelaide's Indian community were in attendance to welcome their heroes. The love they have for their cricketing heroes is extraordinary. I also hosted an official welcome reception for the team, where captain M.S. Dhoni remarked upon the wonderful hospitality that he and his players have received in South Australia since arriving.

The India versus Pakistan match also presents a wonderful opportunity to promote cultural and business links between South Australia and India. The government has sought to make the most of its opportunities, including to build on the recent trade missions to India by myself and other cabinet ministers, including the Deputy Premier and the Minister for Investment and Trade. We have been out there promoting South Australia to India over this period. There is a heightened awareness about Australia at the moment in India because of the excellent visit by Prime Minister Modi recently, so there is a heightened sense of awareness about Australia, and South Australia has stepped right into that space and is able to capture the attention here of the world.

Dozens of leading businessmen and women from India will be in attendance to learn more about investment opportunities in South Australia, so we've packed around this important business forums. We also have done something which I am incredibly proud of. As a gift to the people of India we invited 15 young school-aged boys to come here and participate in the Dream Team 15. They came from all over India. Hundreds and hundreds of them competed for this opportunity to actually be part of this training session in the lead-up to the match on the 15^th. They will go back and tell their families and, indeed, the Indian community of South Australia's deep friendship for the people of India for our mutual benefit, including the many wonderful economic opportunities for our state.