Greaton and Marriott International Partnership

Ms HABIB (Elder) (14:28): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier please inform the house about the Greaton and Marriott International partnership to bring the signature Westin hotel brand to Adelaide?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:29): More good news. It just keeps coming, sir. I would like to thank the member—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I would like to thank the member for Elder for her question and it was, let me tell you, very good news for the people of Elder when she was elected on 17 March this year. What an outstanding person—

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and, of course, the assistant minister to the Deputy Premier in South Australia and—

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in particular, doing a great job coordinating the efforts of the government to ensure that we do everything we can for domestic and family violence prevention in South Australia. So congratulations to you, and thank you for this question.

This question is an important question, and I think it speaks to the increasing confidence that is coming to the South Australian economy. Recently, we have heard that the Adelaide Casino is pushing ahead with the expansion plans that they have had on the books for many, many years. They have actually pressed the 'go' button, which is absolutely fantastic. We know that BHP have announced that they are building a new office in South Australia—good news for people in the construction sector in our state.

There was more good news yesterday when we know that the Greaton group—or it's just called Greaton—announced that they would be building a brand-new hotel in South Australia. This is a $200 million show of confidence in the improving economy in South Australia. It will be a 15-storey building, which will be adjacent to the General Post Office on King William Street in Adelaide. It will have 285 rooms, and it is due to be completed in 2022. I thought that it would be a great idea to open it on New Year's Eve, which would be fantastic and a good way to start the year. Then, of course, all that important work with the Tour Down Under leading into—

Mr MULLIGHAN: Point of order: unless there is new information the Premier is about to provide the house in addition to the media reports, which were published yesterday, this question should be ruled out of order.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Lee. I notice that the member for Lee—

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Education is called to order. The member for Lee has provided me with two articles related to this subject, but I anticipate that the Premier will provide information in addition to the information that is in that article. Premier, please continue.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. It's incredible. There's good news in South Australia and those opposite don't want to hear it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I just suggest they put their hands over their ears for the rest of this because this is unequivocally good news for the people of South Australia.

Sir, let me tell you a little bit about Nicho Teng. Nicho Teng came to South Australia only 14 years ago as a student in South Australia, and since that time he has worked very diligently to grow his business. In fact, it was only five years ago that I presented him with a Fast Movers award in South Australia. He has been an incredibly talented, hardworking and successful businessperson in South Australia and, like so many people from the private sector who do well, they want to reinvest, to give something back. Let me tell you, when this new five-star Marriott hotel—

An honourable member: Westin.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Well—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —it's actually a Marriott hotel—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —which will be operating under the Westin brand. When it opens in South Australia, it will be a very happy day for the people of South Australia. One of the things we have said—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will not interject.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —repeatedly is that we want to bring more convention work to South Australia, and this is why we have massively increased the bid fund to bring international conventions—

Mr Koutsantonis interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to South Australia.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Those opposite, when they were in government wound down the bid fund—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and, by contrast, what we want to do is to grow the size. We know that when people come in for conventions and conferences their spend in the South Australian economy is extraordinarily high—

Mr Koutsantonis: You're kidding?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and on this side of the house we love that. That's why we are investing in bringing more of those people here. That's why the announcement by the Greaton group is good news. I know those opposite don't like it, but unfortunately they are going to have to get used to it because South Australia is on the move.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Lee—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Lee, the member for West Torrens and the member for Lee—

Mr Koutsantonis: Come on, sir, that was funny.

The SPEAKER: —are interjecting. No matter how funny they may be at times, they are interjecting and interjections are out of order. Accordingly, I warn the member for Lee and the member for West Torrens, and I call to order the member for Playford. The member for Lee.