Australian Event Awards

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Minister, how did South Australia fare at the Australian Event Awards?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (15:03): I thank the member for Colton for the question. I acknowledge that he was a dual gold medallist at one of our major events, the World Police and Fire Games, in 2007. Tourism is one of our government's top five economic priorities. We have set some very tough targets to reach $8 billion by 2020 and to employ an extra 10,000 people. We are on track to do that.

The latest figures that came out last week showed a $608 million improvement in the 12 months to 30 June, which takes that spend up to $5.95 billion. We have also put an extra 4,000 jobs into the tourism sector. The great thing about the visitor economy is that it looks after the whole state. Forty-two per cent of people who come and visit South Australia get out into our regions, which is terrific.

Last night, I was in the Sunshine Coast for the Australian Event Awards. I was very pleased to get up on behalf of all South Australians and accept the award for the best state or territory when it comes to putting on major events. This award is judged by who puts on the best events and we do it so well, whether it is the Tour Down Under, which attracts—

Ms REDMOND: Point of order, Mr Speaker. It was my understanding that displays in the house were not appropriate—that whilst one can wear clothing of all sorts, one can't use display in the chamber. The minister is currently displaying.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I have made no reference to any display. This is very good news for the people of South Australia, and particularly for regional South Australia—

The SPEAKER: I will watch carefully the relationship between the object on the table and the minister.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I am not sure which object you are referring to.

The SPEAKER: I asked the minister to put all those trophies on the carpet, behind the bench. They are displays, and I uphold—

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I will put this year's trophy and last year's trophy down here, and I will put the Tour Down Under trophy over here as well so they are hidden from view.

The SPEAKER: The minister is warned. I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The Liberals wouldn't want any display of national recognition and success. They put on their own major event every four years. It's called 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory'. Political insiders around the world tune in every four years for this major event.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Which point of order is it?

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: It is 98, debate, and also—

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —contesting your ruling.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I do want to congratulate everyone who is involved in the tourism sector here, whether they be within government or out there in the regions and putting on all sorts of events, whether it is up at Melrose, in the Fat Tyre event they have up there for mountain bikers, or whether it is the big things like the Clipsal 500 which bring in lots of visitors from around Australia and around the world.

The Tour Down Under, which was named the best sporting event in Australia at the awards last night, brings in 40,000 visitors from interstate and overseas each year who come here purely to watch it. It pumps $50 million into the state's economy, and 780,000 people get out and watch the race. Mike Turtur came up with this idea in the late nineties, the first race was in 1999, and then our government took it to the next level in 2007 when we got pro tour status—true story.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Argue all you want. Before I came into this place I was a cycling journalist. I covered the Olympics and the Tour de France. I reckon I might know a little bit more about cycling than you do.

The SPEAKER: The minister does not know more about cycling than me.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, but maybe more than those opposite. I would like to point out one person in particular, Sally Heading, who has been with this event from the very first event. She has been running it for the past eight years. The next Tour Down Under will be her last because she is going on to take a job with the Commonwealth Games. I would like to put on the record our appreciation for the great work that Sally has done on this event. We also last night saw the Botanic Gardens Restaurant, headed up by Paul Baker the chef there. He won the Best Product or Service award for a fantastic feast that he put on during Tasting Australia this year in the wonderful Botanic Gardens.

Shane International Events and Entertainment won another one of these wonderful trophies that we cannot display for their work on The Magical Gift of Mother Earth at the 2015 Royal Adelaide Show. There are also a number of other South Australian events in the spotlight as finalists or regional winners, including the Adelaide Commonwealth Bank Day-Night Test; WOMADelaide 2016; the Campbelltown Moonlight Markets; and Illuminart in Port Lincoln. I want to congratulate everyone who played some role in us being recognised last night as the best events state or territory in Australia.