Tourism

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (15:00): My question is to the Premier. Why is South Australia the only state in Australia to report a slump in international visitor numbers in the year to December 2018?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:00): The government is working very hard to do everything we can to increase the number of visitors that we have into South Australia. We are doing that with the money that we put into the budget for last year—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the budget which was handed down in September. There are always fluctuations that move around. I don't have a detailed answer for the member specifically why the most recent numbers have shown a less than favourable improvement compared to the rest of Australia, but I will find out. It's an area of high priority for the government. It's one where I believe there is huge potential—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, you have asked the question. I would like to hear the answer.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Sorry, sir, it was very distracting hearing those opposite warble away. The reality is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader, be quiet.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —this is a very important sector for us. It is one that we believe in very strongly. We think that we have excellent product here in South Australia. We are working very hard to do everything we can to promote South Australia to interstate and overseas visitors to South Australia. It's one of the reasons why we are absolutely intent on delivering a gallery of global significance for Aboriginal art and cultures. We know that this will be a drawcard for South Australia. It's one of the reasons why we get very excited about the World Routes conference, which will be held in Adelaide in September this year.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: No worries, we got that for you.

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Mawson!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: That gives us an opportunity to showcase the excellent product that we have in South Australia. It's an area of priority for this government and we will continue to work on it.

The SPEAKER: The member for Frome was patiently waiting. He has the call.